ProjectsMr. Plywood Stands Proud Again: Recreating a Portland IconKirsten Bauer and Alina Radetsky collaborate to replace a celebrity sign of 60 years' standing.Better LettersApr 3, 2025 5 min readAlina Radetsky recreating the unforgettable face of Portland's Mr. Plywood.Last year, Kirsten Bauer shared a project via her newsletter that brought a smile to my face. It was a collaboration with studio pal Alina Radetsky, and I invited them to tell the story of their work to recreate Portland's popular Mr. Plywood sign.Mr. Plywood Stands Proud Again: Recreating a Portland IconThe Mr. Plywood sign, an iconic and beloved landmark, has stood proudly in the Montavilla neighbourhood in Portland, Oregon, for decades. The caricature was designed by one of the founders of the locally owned Mr. Plywood lumber and building supply store, shortly after it opened in 1963. His unique character, made with three stacked sheets of plywood, has become a recognisable symbol of the business and, fittingly, the material it represents. His charming cartoonish appearance customers often mistakenly refer to him as a pig has etched him into the memories of Portlanders for decades.The sign's authentic 1990s replacement had weathered the Pacific Northwest elements remarkably well over the years, largely due to the durability of MDO (medium-density overlay) plywood. (Mr. Plywood is one of the few lumber stores in Portland to stock MDO making it a favourite stop of most local sign painters!) However, it was starting to show its age.Portland's original Mr. Plywood went up in the 1960s and was replaced by a local sign painter in the 1990s. Photo: Plywood blog.When Tom Jardine, a collector passionate about preserving eye-catching local relics, sought to acquire the ageing sign, he presented Mr. Plywoods owner Bret Brantner with a unique proposition: he would keep the original, while taking care of the process to replace it, to include its removal, hiring sign painters to faithfully replicate it on new panels, and installing the new sign. It took some convincing, and a few reminders, but Bret finally agreed, and in March 2023, Tom began the process of removing the old sign.Tom Jardine and Mr. Plywood store staff removing the 2.4 x 3.0 m (8 x 10 ft) sign in 2023.We were forwarded Toms email request from another sign painter in town who couldn't take on the project, and the opportunity to recreate it was too compelling for us to pass up! We had been sharing a studio space and assisting each other with smaller projects for a while, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity to team up and take on a larger job. Having the support of another sign painter to bounce ideas off was invaluable as we navigated the process. We were excited but also justifiably apprehensive about replicating something so ingrained in Portlands visual history.Tom saw the faded sign as a sort of 'crown jewel' in his collection, but he also sought to preserve its original legacy by recreating the new sign as faithfully to the original as possible. It was therefore a project that demanded both precision and reverence for the original work.We worked closely with Tom, who provided the cut and primed MDO plywood as well as a space to paint at his warehouse. We traced the original design and made paper patterns. We then brought Mr. Plywood back to life by hand-painting with enamel paints and painstakingly colour matching the original hues a difficult task, seeing as the old sign was so faded in areas!Mr. Plywood Snr. settling into retirement as details on his successor are finessed by All Good Signs' Alina Radetsky before reaching the half-way point.The challenge lay in balancing the historical accuracy of the original with the need to create a fresh, high-gloss version of the sign. There were no modern shortcuts or digital tools involved, just the careful application of time-honoured methods."Where's my pencil?" asks Mr. Plywood, to which Kirsten Bauer replies, "Hold tight, it'll be back behind your ear as soon as this paint has cured".Seeing the ease of the brushstrokes on the faded paint made us appreciate the craftsmanship of the original sign painters. There was a real joy in tracing the old signs lines, capturing not only its visual impact but the personality and texture of the hand-painted work."I feel as good as new!"Once the new sign was complete, Tom and his brother handled the installation, ensuring it was put in place with the same care as the original."I'm going up in the world!" But team Mr. Plywood still have a few touch-ups to do before coming back down to earth.For all of us involved, this project was more than just painting a sign. It was about honouring a piece of Portlands visual culture, while respecting the craftsmanship of those who came before us. We felt incredibly fortunate to play a part in preserving this little bit of Portlands history for future generations to enjoy.Written by Kirsten Bauer and Alina RadetskyIt's job done for Alina Radetsky, Tom Jardine, and Kirsten Bauer, but there's still time for a little surprise for Mr. Plywood owner Bret Brantner. More Projects

PeopleUncovering the Spectacular Commercial Art of Wes CookA mural at McDonald's, Centralia, Washington, leads Cabel Sasser down a delightful rabbit hole.Better LettersMar 27, 2025 3 min readA portion of the mural at McDonald's in Centralia, Washington, that took Cabel Sasser down the Wes Cook rabbit hole.When I saw a link to this video posted to Mastodon, it was accompanied by a comment that said, "watch to the end". I did, and was floored.Cabel Sasser, Panic XOXO Festival (2024) on YouTube.The talk by Cabel Sasser is about his research into the life and work of Wes Cook, an outstanding commercial artist whose clients included Disney, McDonald's, and Universal.Sasser has gone deep, including gradually scanning and publishing pieces from Cook's portfolio to a dedicated website that honours the artist and designer.The original drawing for the McDonald's mural above is among these, and here are just ten more that offer a glimpse into the variety of Cook's work. They show the stages his ideas would pass through before becoming a mural, set design, or themepark attraction.In 1979, Cook designed this custom mural painting platform for the work he was doing for McDonald's at Setmakers Studio.Interior design work, possibly for his own home/studio, 1973.Unbuilt plan for the proposed Comic Strip Street at Universal Islands of Adventure, 1994.Circus mural for the McDonald's in Dsseldorf-Oberkassel, Germany, 1979.Neptune's Domain, the entrance to an attraction visualised for an unknown themepark.Exploratory sketch for Tokyo DisneySea.Exploration for the Renaissance Galleon at Tokyo DisneySea.Magellans Globe, designed for the Magellans restaurant at Tokyo DisneySea. You can see how it turned out here at wescook.art.Mural artwork for a McDonald's in Hawaii, 1978.For more, visit wescook.art, where you'll also find this 'unused' McDonald's piece that I'll let you learn about yourself...PS. Although they never met, both Wes Cook and Mark Oatis were involved in the work that brought Tokyo DisneySea to life. Oatis was designing signs and other graphics for the American Waterfront feature, which consisted of two blocks inspired by 1910-era New York. However, one faade remained un-named, as Mark explains:"Many ideas had been floated, but none had hit the mark. I was asked for my opinion, and I suggested that, with all these signs in such profusion, there probably had to be sign shop somewhere! The idea was embraced on the spot, and I threw myself into creating the full complement of designs found on any quality shop of the era, right down to the 'A business with no Sign is a Sign of No Business' sign, lettered on the front door."Oatis named the shop The Asmus Co. in recognition of Denver sign painter Henry Asmus who, via his daughter Ellie Ulmer, gave him his first sight of Atkinson's Sign Painting. That book, in that moment, resolved him to pursue a sign painting career, and everything that followed, which included Ulmer becoming his mother-in-law.More PeopleMore History

HistoryYe Olde Sign Shoppe at the American Sign MuseumSigns, photos, and other artefacts from sign shops of old in the American Sign Museum's collections.Better LettersMar 20, 2025 7 min readTilden, Nebraska, was once served for up-to-date signs by Russell & Sons.During my week at the American Sign Museum, I was blown away by the history preserved there in terms of old sign firms, sign painters, and gilders see searches for 'sign painter' and 'sign shop' in their online collections for example.I featured some of these Beverly Sign Co., George C. Brooke, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., Keith Knecht, Raymond LeBlanc, and Mike Stevens in last week's post, so the following is more of a photo dump of other 'ye olde sign shoppes' that can be found at the museum.I've had to resist the urge to get into local historical research for these, but if you have any knowledge to add, then I'd be happy to edit accordingly.'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' is a regular column in BLAG (see all back issues), and one of my favourite research topics. There are dozens of bl.ag online pieces with the 'ye olde sign shop' tag, and I'm always excited to hear new and interesting stories: please share yours by emailing sam@bl.ag.Original Sign DesignsLet's pick up more or less where we left off with the 1941 Original Sign Designs book.Brown Sign Co.These sequential pages show the design by J.L. Beardsley and a photo of its fabrication following a few small adjustments.Beardsley's credit (first image) locates them in Dayton, Ohio, so assuming they worked for the Brown Sign Co., we'd have a location for this shopfront. Wittich / Hastings Co.The credit on this page reads "Hastings Co., Philadelphia, PA". It's not clear to me if the firm is Wittich or Hastings Co., as the latter doesn't seem to correspond to an easily identifiable location in/near Philadelphia...Vehicle EvolutionNext up some pairings of sign shops with vehicles, theirs or otherwise, outside.Wilmore & Co. / A.A. RitterLet's take it right back to when sign painters used to get to jobs on a penny-farthing bicycle. (Check out this bl.ag online feature for more sign painters on two wheels.)My guess for the whited-out letters is 'Company' to read 'Wilmore & Company' with the ampersand above the window.The new sign placed above the doorway advertises A.A. Ritter, perhaps placing the photo to a time when this sign painter took over the Willmore & Co. firm.Looks like an ornate piece of reverse glass work in the frame.Ryan SignsCheck out the massive manicule/printer's fist pointing to the way in to Chas. Ryan's shop, which is located above a restaurant and a barbers.Lowdown lettering in the restaurant window boasts of "tables for ladies", and the vehicle looks to date from the 1910s.Russell & SonsHere's Russell and his sons with their well-appointed mode of transport for big signs in Tilden, Nebraska.Russell & Sons are proudly sponsored by Red Seal White Lead, whose mascot bears an uncanny resemblance to the Dutch Boy brand.Yes, that sign on the floor really does say "paint with pure white lead and end your troubles", if you work your way around the layout in the right way. In fact, as we now know, lead spells trouble.Maybe one of the sons did this one.Neon BreakdownIs the guy on the left the mechanic, or the sign man expressing frustration with the pace of this tyre change?R. & H. Strachan, Inc."We made signs before we could talk" and we're ready to make more in Brooklyn, New York.I think that Strachan has a brother of the brush in Cuba.Anon., Lufkin, TexasAnd, finally, bringing things into the modern era.If you enjoyed those, then get right up-to-date with this extended photo post of contemporary sign painter vehicles.Self-Promotion'Be wise, advertise' they say, and the sign game is no different.Pierrepont Signs, Inc.These blocks were produced for printing advertisements in newspapers and magazines, most likely Signs of the Times in this case. Pierrepont Signs is still trading in Rochester, New York.The blocks would be positioned alongside others, and/or with type, to set the page for printing.I've flipped these two over so that you can also see the layout as it would have appeared in print, although in negative, as the lighter parts here are where the ink would be taken, while the darker parts remained white/the colour of the paper.Geo. C. Kirn & Co.These look to be original artwork for reproduction at smaller sizes, perhaps as trade or business cards, or in press.The winged woman brought to mind the one on the Signs of the Times artwork in last week's post and I'm wondering if they perhaps represent Iris, messenger of the gods in Greek mythology?This relatively large piece is marked up with the reproduction size of 2 1/8 in (5.4 cm).Detail of the lower portion of the above advertisement showing the address and direction details.At the ShopStriking a pose at the shop.Raiford Sign Co.What a smart bunch of fellows in Houston, Texas, and we'd expect nothing less from a firm established in 1892.Six suited men posing in the doorway of a shop adorned with signs for the Raiford Sign Co.Signs by LeeBut which one's Lee?Low PricesIf these guys put their prices up, they might be able to afford a better photographer.Cincinnati LocalsEagle-eyed Jenna Homen spotted these in the Historic Photos of Cincinnati book.John the Sign WriterIs that the man himself in the upper left window? John's Cincinnati Sign House was located on West 5th Street, with this photo taken in the 1880s.Dilts Advertising Sign ServiceThis photo was taken on Queen City Avenue in 1915."High-water streetcards had their motors mounted up in the body of the car that was elevated from the tracks"Queen City Sign Co.This one rang a bell, and then I recalled I'd seen it somewhere online, colourised. My notes have it on Vine, between 4th and 5th streets in the late 1880s.The photo presented in the book is actually slightly cropped versus the colourised version below.Gary Godby has an alternative treatment here with the sign in red, and showing the annotations on the original photo.On Main StreetAnd, to close, a sneak preview of some of the signs for sign painters that are on display in the Main Street sign shop at the American Sign Museum.Ad-Art DisplayFormerly Elliott & Johnson?Winsted Sign ServiceGrant Signs / Olga SignsDo you know how the (presumably local) three-digit phone number can be used to date Olga's sign?Stades SignsL.D. Van OrdenMack's SignsWhatever you need, Mack has you covered for quality sign work.PS. I Miss YouAnd, last but not least, is this beautiful envelope, hand-drawn by Charles N. Dunlap in 1898. He was a former employee at the Smith & Quehl shop, and the letter inside expresses discontent with his new employment in Youngstown, Ohio, and nostalgia for those happier days back in Cincinnati.More Olde Sign ShoppesMore History

PlacesMy Week at the American Sign MuseumReport from this incredible museum, which celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new book this year.Better LettersMar 13, 2025 12 min readLarge-scale neon at the American Sign Museum.When I visited the American Sign Museum in 2015, my ability to focus on the location itself was somewhat overwhelmed by the Letterheads 40 event that was in full swing there. Then, on the last day, we hit the road for the original Better Letters Circus tour, but I swore that one day I'd return.That day came last Monday, when I turned up for a week of research for a book I'm writing to celebrate the museum's 25th anniversary.Pre-Order the Book HereArriving at the museum on the first day I was greeted by this display of local and iconic Cincinnati signage. The Cincinnati Gardens were once a major sports and entertainment venue, and to avoid confusion the final 'S' was moved and augmented for this reinstallation at the museum.It was an incredible week in an incredible place, but I was initially awestruck by everything there was to take in; it was like the 'freeze' from the 'fight, flight, or freeze' responses to threats, but with a positive twist!'Messy vitality' is embedded in the museum's approach to displaying its wares, which at first hits you hard, and then invites you in to take a closer look.After I'd pulled myself together, I got to work on learning everything I could from the exhibits, and the people that have brought it all together. This included time in the expansive library, where I set up my work station for the week, and a trip to the nearby storage facility where there is a vast collection of artefacts queuing up to get into the main buidling.This point-of-purchase sign for Nu-Enamel paints was one of my favourite pieces from the collection of 'one day, maybe' items in the museum's nearby storage facility.Even with a whole week, long days due to jetlag, and an access-all-areas pass, I still feel like I've only scratched the surface of what the museum has to offer. Luckily I'll be back for Letterheads 50 in June, but in the meantime, here's a taste of my week at the American Sign Museum.The LetterwallWhen you first enter the museum, you're greeted by the Letterwall, which provides myriad examples of the materials and production methods used for creating letters and signs.The museum showcases the numerous ways that different materials can be used and combined to create a seemingly endless variety of letterforms.The museum's collections span about one hundred years from 18701970.Painting & GildingThe museum should be a place of pilgrimage for sign painters, with everything from showcards to kit boxes and giant glue-chipped and gilded signs. (I'll follow up on this post with another piece focusing on some more of the 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' goodness that I came across.)The intricately gilded and painted portfolio of George C. Brooke dates from 1870, which makes it the oldest item in the museum's displays.Keith Knecht's kit box is one of my favourite items at the museum, and I was able to get a look at the back side on this visit. There will be more from Knecht in 'Meet the Letterheads' in BLAG 07, and I've previously shared even ore kit boxes from the museum.Original sketches from Chicago's Beverly Sign Co. (Check out the new book on the firm, and the feature about them in BLAG 06.)Flick the SwitchThe museum is overflowing with illuminated signs, from early incandescent bulbs to neon and backlit plastics. Their collective brilliance is truly awesome, but there was also something special about seeing them unplugged, including the various details that are only visible this way.With museum founder and curator Tod Swormstedt, checking out some of the details on the huge Howard Johnson's sign that is a centrepiece of the museum's Main Street exhibit.Sign shop salespeople used these portable sample kits to show the variety of colours that can be achieved by combining different glass coatings with either neon or argon (and mercury) in the tubes.Neon in full effect on this 1963 McDonald's sign that features Ronald's predecesor, the Speedy mascot.Signs, signs, signs on Main Street, and every alley that comes off it.This one is from the 1930s and was once illuminated with actual gas flames for PennFuel Gas / Counties Gas Co. Needless to say, it remains switched off for display in the museum.If you're interested in the era of illuminated signs before neon, then museum founder Tod Swormstedt gets deeper into it in his Tod Talks Live! The Lightbulb Era talk, part of the wider 'Tod Talks' series.Main Street DetailsThe flagship exhibit at the museum is the Main Street installation. This blends original signs with complementary shopfronts and displays from contemporary craftspeople. The exhibit was completed in two phases: 2012 for the opening at the current Camp Washington site, and 2024 (profiled in BLAG 06).The Main Street Reunion Project (2012) on YouTube.The opening spread from Mark Oatis' account of the second round of intense activity on Main Street (2024) in BLAG 06.My visit was enriched enormously by getting to spend time on Main Street with some of those that had the vision and the skills to realise it. These were museum founder and curator Tod Swormstedt, the architect Paul Muller, construction maestro Sean Druley, and David & Suze Butler, who brought together and managed the teams that customised each individual shop.Window panel for the jewellers by Noel B. Weber, Elaine Wallis' Snapper's Tavern mural, and concave gilded letters behind glass by Jeff Lang for the tailors.The windows in the shops are then filled with a huge array of smaller items from the museum's collections. These range from DIY sign kits, to point-of-purchase signs, to fun stuff like toys.The Blitz Beer point-of-purchase sign is animated by a rotating disc set behind the outer ring.Justin GreenIn the same display as the toys and games are original drawings from Justin Green's 'Sign Game' series. Sadly I never got to meet Justin on my 2015 visit, but I did see his widow Carol Tyler on this trip. I also passed by some of his work, and the ghost sign that he talks in front of in Sign Painters. (Check out Married to Comics to learn more about Justin, Carol, and their relationship.)"Great Moments in Sign History: When Pathfinder landed this July 4th, its tiny Sojourner robot car went sightseeing across the red planet's surface. Within a month it had located graphic evidence of an ancient civilization. Pictured above is some decaying signage, apparently of a gaming district much like Earth's Las Vegas.Great Moments in Sign History: When Pathfinder landed this July 4th, its tiny Sojourner robot car went sightseeing across the red planet's surface. Within a month it had located graphic evidence of an ancient civilization. Pictured above is some decaying signage, apparently of a gaming district much like Earth's Las Vegas."From the hand of Justin Green at Shake It Records and the Blue Jay Restaurant.As I was taking this photo, a man started making a beeline for me shouting something about photos and cameras, so I made haste in the opposite direction. There's more about this sign in the story of Chuck Keiger who painted it.Lights, Camera, Action!While the whole book team was in town, a local TV station came in to do a live broadcast from the museum. Each of us was interviewed, and of course the signs made the perfect backdrop for shooting.Going live with Jen on Local 12, and the book team. From left: Erin Holland, Natalie Grilli, Ioanna Paraskevopoulos, Jen from Local 12, Kathy Kikkert, and some guy in a Manning Signs t-shirt. Behind us is Bob, the West Coast name for Frisch's iconic 'Big Boy' sign, right in the middle of Main Street.Local 12 interviews American Sign Museum book photographer Natalie Grilli for the morning show, at 25:00 on YouTube. Also available here.Kathy Kikkert and yours truly talking signs and the book for Local 12, at 49:05 on YouTube. Also available here.When Better Letters Met Jenna HomenJenna Homen has been involved with BLAG since the very beginning, and in addition to sub-editing each issue, she now writes the regular 'Shop Talk' column. When I told her about the trip, she hinted that she might try to come along for some of it, and I was chuffed when she followed through on the idea.Jenna Homen and John Cox enjoying the inside of the new Main Street sign shop.Jenna was first out of the blocks with her write-up of her visit, which you can read in full here, including a look at my first ever taste of Cincinnati's famous Chili. It was lovely to hang out, and to do so in such an inspirational location, so thank you for coming Jenna!Team BLAG: Sam Roberts & Jenna Homen.Behind-the-ScenesI have no idea how the museum's founder and curator Tod Swormstedt decides what is included in the public displays, and what gets left outside. (In fact, it's a question I'll be putting to him for the book!) As part of the visit, I was lucky to get to see some of the stuff that isn't on general display.These shelves of antique and vintage sign painting and gilding materials are in the museum's nearby storage facility. There's also plenty like this in the museum itself.Paint, brushes, and metal leaf. The weight of that tin of Dutch Boy white lead was quite something.In addition to a case of gilded samples from Raymond LeBlanc, the museum has the original reverse glass piece that features as a step-by-step in his Gold Leaf Techniques book. This is in founder Tod Swormstedt's office, so knock on his door if you want to get a look.By the time you read this, the inside of Main Street's sign shop may be open to the public. These are some of the pieces in the extensive display of Mike Stevens' showcard and lettering work which now fills two walls. We'll be profiling Stevens and his showcards in BLAG 07.More Mike Stevens.Also in the storage facility is this three-part sign that was painted, and signed, by Mohammad Alis father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. Read the American Sign Museum entry, and check out more celebrity sign painters in this bl.ag online post.Support Your Local LibraryNot surprisingly the museum has a vast library with over a century of publications straddling all aspects of signs and sign making. This includes a full set of bound Signs of the Times magazines dating back to the first issue from 1906. The library was where I set up for the week, and it can be visited by appointment, which I highly recommend.One of two original drawings for Signs of the Times. It's signed H.C. Williamson, NY, 15, which I guess is the year 1915. It doesn't correspond to any of the covers in the period that the magazine had that masthead, so it was either rejected or wasn't intended as a cover design.Aside from some of the classics like Atkinson's Sign Painting and Strong's Book of Designs, this book caught my eye. It was published in 1941 by the Ohio State Conference of Sign and Pictorial Artists' Local Unions to "improve, extend, and develop more business for the benefit of our craft". There are echoes of the 1935 Modernize Main Street publication, although this more recent book contains a series of technical illustrations in the back pages.0:00 /0:09One box I opened had a number of flipbooks inside. These were the 1922 'Instructograph' series, which claimed to be "The First Employment of Moving Pictures in Teaching Show Card Writing". The eight flipbooks, which were later published as a chunky compendium, covered paletting, the basic strokes, and the construction of the letter 'A' shown here.The Instructograph series was published by the American Show Card School in Toronto, Canada.All Play and No WorkThe week was a brilliant way to immerse myself in the museum ahead of knuckling down to write the book. Sometimes work doesn't feel like work, and I'm excited about the next stage of collaborating with the wonderful team that the museum has brought together for this special publication.The American Sign Museum: Celebrating 25 Years will be out in the Autumn/Fall, and is now available for pre-order.Pre-Order the BookEnjoying my work with photographer Natalie Grilli and designer Kathy Kikkert at the Mom 'n 'Em cafe near the American Sign Museum. Photos: Mom 'n 'Em staff.Thank you to everyone that was part of an unforgetable week at the museum: All American Sign Museum Staff; David & Suze Butler; Camp Washington Chili; John Cox; David Greene; Natalie Grilli; Erin Holland; Jen at Local 12; Jenna Homen; Kathy Kikkert; Mark Kissling; Mom 'n 'Em Coffee; Paul Muller; Ioanna Paraskevopoulos; Jesse Sandman; Tod Swormstedt; Carol Tyler; Tom Wartman.More Places

EventsWomen in Sign Painting: Burds of the BrushRachel E Millar shares her and her guests' reflections on the first Burds of the Brush in Glasgow.Better LettersMar 6, 2025 7 min readJorge Jacobs, Dee Maher Ring, Hana Sunny Whaler, and Tozer Signs at the 2022 Burds of the Brush Letterheads meet in Glasgow.Hot on the heels of events in Bristol and Copenhagen (see BLAG 04), the fourth annual Burds of the Brush will take place in Berlin, 57 September. With that in mind, and International Women's Day happening this week, here is Rachel E Millar's BLAG 03 article about hosting the inaugural Burds, and why these events are important for the trade at large.Rachel E Millar's article was first published in BLAG 03, Summer 2023.Burds of the Brush: One Year* On*Now three years.In 2022, I hosted a weekend sign painters meet called Burds of the Brush in Glasgow, Scotland. In attendance were 44 women and non-binary sign painters from nine countries, and it drew attention to how these spaces are vital to supporting and uplifting those who dont fit the stereotypical image of a sign painter.This article is for subscribers only.Sign up for a free membership to unlock sign painting resources and the latest news.Subscribe nowAlready have an account? Sign in

PeopleSketched Buk Brings the Brilliance of Gold to BangkokThailand's Buk overcomes challenges to make glass gilding an important part of his design practice.Better LettersFeb 27, 2025 6 min readWork-in-progress on the front door for the Smile Club Thailnd hairdressers.Suchan Chaveewan, aka Buk (pronounced 'book'), is a graphic designer, gilder, and sign painter from Bangkok, Thailand. He has worked hard to make his ornate glass gilding a core component of his work, and BLAG caught up with him in his studio to learn about the challenges he's faced along the way.One of a number of pieces of interior decoration for the Sui Heng chicken shop that were exhibited as part of the 2018 Bangkok Design Festival. Bangkok and BackWhen Buk was still a child, his family relocated from the busy streets of Bangkok to the tourist hotspot of Phuket, an island in the south of Thailand. His dad worked as a tour guide, while his mum and auntie ran a restaurant. As Buk was approaching adolescence, they moved back to the capital to broaden his horizons, and to give him access to a better education than was available on the island.Back in Bangkok, Buk's dad was working as an art dealer for the Museum of Contemporary Art, which opened his eyes to the possibility of creative career paths. He went on to study communication and graphic design at Srinakharinwirot University before starting his own working life as a freelance graphic designer, working on projects from branding and logo design to album covers.The majority of Buk's clientelle are from the hospitality sector, allowing him to integrate hand-painted and gilded work into his graphic design assigments. Shown here is a project for Otsu bar.Striking GoldIn 2010, Buk went to work in Sydney, Australia, for a couple of years. One day, he noticed a sign in a cafe window that wasn't like anything he'd ever seen before. Inspecting it carefully, he realised that it was done by hand and made use of real gold.Curious, Buk scrolled through the cafe's Instagram, and soon hit upon their post about the sign, which name-checked Lynes & Co. as the firm responsible. This led to him reaching out to the firm's founder, Will Lynes, who invited him to take a workshop.The Learning CurveIt was on another trip that Buk finally got to take the workshop, and the already steep learning curve was compounded by his relatively low level of English, and the fact that he had exactly zero previous brush experience. Added to this was the entirely new mindset required to work in reverse on glass.Work-in-progress for Laun, a diner in Bangkok.Buk pushed through these challenges, and Will guided him through the basics of water gilding, screenprinting, matte gilding, blending, and backing up. Buk's head was buzzing from the experience, but he was unable to continue his learning journey in Bangkok due to an inability to source the supplies he needed to practise.In the two years that followed, Buk returned to Sydney for two more workshops, taught by David Adrian Smith, and hosted at Lynes & Co. The second of these was in 2018, and in the year between them he formed a relationship with Urban Billmeier at W&B Gold Leaf. This finally allowed him to get the tools and materials he needed directly from the USA.Letterheads Bangkok was a personal project where Buk experimented with the idea of setting up a gilding supply service in Thailand.Finding a MarketGilding in Bangkok, and more widely in Thailand, is largely limited to its application to temples and statues; some matte gilds on Chinese jewellers' windows are an exception in terms of commercial work. This meant that Buk needed to begin marketing his work from scratch.Buk created this sample piece to show clients the variety of effects that can be achieved with gilded work on glass.The process started by suggesting gilded work to existing graphic design clients, mainly in the hospitality sector, but the take-up was slow for the first couple of years. Buk found that what worked was showing the entire process, educating clients about what goes into it, and the results that can be achieved.Things then started to take off for this side of Buk's business when his work was picked up by some Thai media outlets, which resulted in a short film being made by the Cadson Demak type foundry.Glass Gilding on YouTube.Global ConnectionsWhile Buk's bread and butter remains his graphic design work, he now spends about 30% of his time on gilding and sign painting projects. He has also continued to forge connections internationally, growing his friendship and support network.In 2020, he hosted John Studden and Andrew & Kelsey McClellan for a workshop event in his home studio, where they were joined by Alan from Old Soul Sign Co.. It was literally on the eve of the lockdowns that swept across the world, but fortunately everyone managed to finish up and fly home safely.This piece reads in both Thai and English, and was awarded a Typographic Certificate of Excellence at Type Directors Club 69.In 2023, Buk's work was recognised by the Type Directors Club, but he is doing anything but resting on his laurels, motivated as ever by what is left to learn in this noble craft.Here are three more projects to enjoy, and there are lots more on Buk's portfolio site at sketchedbuk.com and his Instagram @sketchedbuk.Thanks Buk for taking the time to talk to me, and for sharing your gilding journey with BLAG.10th Anniversary A special piece to mark the 10th wedding anniversary of friends, Aum and Yingsita.FishmongerBuk has created a variety of interior and external signage for this fish restaurant. More here, here, and here.Super Machine StudioBangkok architects brought Buk in to decorate their studio door.More People

Places'Classifying Signs' by Harry LeesonClass, taste, and the impact of street signs and public lettering policy on our built environments.Better LettersFeb 20, 2025 5 min readThe Kindersley typeface is used for Kensington and Chelsea's street names. Photo: Alistair Hall.I am often contacted by design and communication students doing research into various facets of sign painting, ghost signs, and public lettering, and I love to see the work that they produce. I help in a variety of ways, including sharing articles I've written, and links to other writing of relevance to their work.One of the articles I've found myself recommending a lot over the years is 'Classifying Signs' by Harry Leeson, but it has never been available online since it was first published in The Recorder by Monotype in 2014. I finally got in touch with Leeson to ask if I could make the following digital copy available, and he kindly said 'yes'.Classifying SignsBy Harry LeesonPublic lettering has always been intriguing. Whether as a source of inspiration for designers and practitioners, a form of typographic archaeology, or simply as part of our everyday experience of the city, vernacular signage plays an enormous cultural role. In an early publication on the subject, entitled Signs in Action, James Sutton cast a critical eye over the public lettering of 1960s era London, with the aim of improving the field of signage design and the general typographical appearance of the city. He argued that while signage can offer wide opportunities for lively and original work, the field is rather neglected. It's a point that still holds true today.Other authors have been more concerned with nostalgia, and lettering's historic resonance. Stephen Banham's Characters: Cultural Stories Revealed Through Typography focuses on the city of Melbourne, and in particular the untold stories behind some of the city's much-loved historic signage, including some of its elaborate neon works.But aside from its vibrant design history, examining the subject raises questions about how public lettering affects our relationship with the surrounding environment, and more particularly the social cues it offers. So, what has class got to do with graphic design? The answer, it would appear, is quite a lot.Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu puts forward the theory that the key determining factor of social status lies in taste. He suggests that this isn't something we're born with, but something that's closely tied to our education and social origin, determining ideas of what is in good or bad taste. Bourdieu asserts that the distinctions in taste create barriers between classes in much the same way that the good and bad signage in London acts as a signifier for the different boroughs of London.How does a sociologist's ideas on taste and class relate to urban signage? It's evident in the stark contrast between the different London areas use of visual language, and the good and bad examples of typography from borough to borough. It's there in the conflict between the authoritative sans serifs of Hampstead, and the hastily pasted plastic signage of Southwark; the Goudy-style blackletter of Kensington and the informal mishmash of typographic styles on Peckham's shop fronts.Street signs from two of London's socially contrasting areas Kensington and Southwark offer a concise visual demonstration. Walking round parts of Kensington reveals a consistent use of serif typefaces, combined with carefully crafted execution and use of material. This ranges from personalised door numbering to the public signage that fills Kensington Gardens. The blackletter script Kensington uses for its signs potentially hand-lettered originally, and then repeated is paired with Kindersley for the street name. The use of blackletter suggests the borough's royal status, conveying heritage and prestige. It's in stark contrast to the signage found in the council estates of Southwark, which rely on laminated plastic plaques that demonstrate little or no consideration for their impact on the character of the area.Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon also hinted at the impact of public lettering in Signs: Lettering in the Environment, published in 2003, stating that:In addition to directing and instructing you in your way finding, public lettering can contribute to the way in which we identify, and to some degree, respond to the space and places we visit.This is also apparent in London's many and varied shop fronts, which play a key role in the typographic language of an area.The shopfronts of Peckham, in the London Borough of Southwark, reveal a riot of typographic styles and letterforms, with serif, slab serif, sans serif and imitation handwriting combining to reveal an absence of any formal typographic education. This education if we consider Bourdieu is one that is based on what is considered 'good taste' in design. In the middle-class environments of Kensington and Hampstead, shopfronts use more formality and refinement, with greater consideration for the relationships between type, colour, design and environment. One store on Dukes Lane uses an elegant serif font cast in metal against the shop's understated colour scheme. In harsh comparison with the shopfronts of less privileged areas, the language is minimal, and its placement and scale reveal a much more considered overall composition.Interestingly, it seems typographical consistency may owe something to strict local council guidelines. The Shopfront Design Guidelines Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea recognises the contribution of shopfronts, stating that they play a key part in establishing and defining the visual character of our high streets. The same guidelines make clear provisions for a consistent design style, advocating for uncluttered shopfronts, and avoidance of excessive signage or superfluous content.Hampstead also has its own version of design guidelines that govern what cannot be done to building exteriors. The guidelines include much advice about the appearance of shopfronts, which feature the avoidance of strident colours and internally illuminated box signs, as well as expressing concern about security shutters and grilles that are particularly unattractive. It's interesting to note that many of the features mentioned are commonly found in the visual language of shopfronts in London's more working-class environments.How do these restrictions relate to Bourdieu's own theories, and are they a rejection of what is considered bad taste? If so, what issues does this raise? Such concern about appearance demonstrated by two of London's most middle-class areas highlights an attempt to strike a visual distinction between themselves and other areas of London. In turn, this is a desire to express the distinction in class on the very surface of the city itself.Perhaps the real issue here is the lack of consistent design regulation across London's boroughs, regardless of their social status. Hampstead and Kensington's strict guidelines offer up a sharp contrast with other areas total lack of interest in typographic language. It makes for an even greater counterpoint when the number of design schools in these boroughs the London College of Communication in Southwark, Goldsmiths in Lewisham, the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University in Tower Hamlets is taken into account. Do these schools need to provide a greater contribution to the visual language of their areas?Or perhaps, on a more basic level, what is required is a greater understanding of the impact that this seemingly overlooked aspect of visual culture has. An understanding that goes beyond the functional aspect of public lettering to recognise its social, political and cultural contributions.Thank you to Harry Leeson for giving permission to reproduce this article, which first appeared in Issue 1 of The Recorder from Monotype. And to Alistair Hall for his input into identifying the typefaces used on the Kensington and Chelsea street signs for a small edit to that paragraph.Further ReadingCharacters: Cultural Stories Revealed Through Typography by Stephen BanhamDistinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste (Originally La Distinction: Critique sociale du jugement) by Pierre BourdieuLift and Separate: Graphic Design and the Vernacular by the Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design & Typography'London Street Name Fonts' by Alistair HallLondon Street Signs by Alistair HallSigns in Action by James SuttonSigns: Lettering in the Environment by Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon

FilmsLisbon's Letreiro Galeria Glows in a Beautiful Short FilmDocumenting Rita Mrias and Paulo Barata's tireless work to preserve a city's graphic heritage.Better LettersFeb 13, 2025 2 min readLetreiro Galeria houses over 400 salvaged signs from the Portuguese capital. Photo: Adriano Fagundes.At the 2019 Letterheads meet in Porto, I was approached by a woman holding a book in her hand that she wanted to show me. I started flicking through it, and was instantly blown away by its contents: meticulous research into signs from Lisbon, Portugal, including archival photographs, blueprints, and, in the front section, pictures of their removal from buildings.Cidade Grfica: Letreiros e Reclames, Lisboa no Sculos XX, available from Bibliotecas de Lisboa.That woman was Rita Mrias, and the book, Cidade Grfica (Graphic City), was a gift for me. (Thank you again Rita!) It was produced to coincide with an exhibition from Letreiro Galeria, a small collective of volunteers led by Rita and her husband Paulo Barata. They work tirelessly to preserve the graphic heritage of the Portuguese capital, which is being eroded as global brands replace local business, and their distinctive signs, on its high streets.Spreads from the 272 packed pages of Cidade Grfica.The book documents the group's research and conservation activities, which extend to salvaging signs threatened with destruction. Over 400 of these are now housed in a storage facility, with about half of these lovingly restored, and, in the case of the many neon signs, plugged in. However, their warehouse is soon to be demolished, and so they are seeking a new space, as documented in this beautiful short film by Irish director Gar O'Rourke.PORTICO_#07 - ON & OFF on Vimeo.The film is accompanied by an online article by Sandra Nobre, with photography from Adriano Fagundes, that can also be read in magazine format.More FilmsMore Books

EventsIs this a crazy idea?Help give the Letterheads anniversary celebrations in June an international dimension...Better LettersFeb 6, 2025 3 min readThe original Letterheads first got to know each other at Jerry Albright's shop in Denver, Colorado. There will be more about Albright, and his influence on the Letterheads movement, in BLAG 07.With news that Letterheads 50 sold out in just two days, I want to revisit an idea I had a year or two ago when the anniversary first crossed my mind.You can tell me if it's crazy...50 Mini MeetsThe event at the American Sign Museum was capped at 350 guests a big meet by any measure but there are thousands of us worldwide.What if, on the same weekend, there were folks meeting in sign shops/studios across the globe in a parallel series of small, local events?There could even be 50 of these gatherings...Remember: it all started with small meetings of apprentices in shops, so this would be a truly authentic way to celebrate five decades of the movement.All it needs are volunteers to open their shop/studio doors and invite local Letterheads to connect, share, and spend time together for some/all of the weekend of 2122 June.Could that be you?Or is there someone near you that could be pursuaded?Letterheads is all about participation, and what better way to defeat the FOMO (fear of missing out) than to share the occasion with other likeminded people in your area? To join together for a weekend of embracing the spirit of the movement as a globally-connected community of people passionate about the craft?If you're 'host curious', then this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for...Risk AssessmentBut, be warned: you might develop a habit. Here's serial host Mike Meyer on the experience of organising his first meet:"The first meet I hosted was in 1992: a one day get together to pretty much put faces to names of sign painters in a 100 mile radius."I thought maybe five or six would show."We had about 25 turn up!"I was hooked!"Support NetworkIf you feel inspired to do something, then let me know: I'll be more than happy to pass on what I've learned from hosting meets, and the same is true of anyone else that has done the same. (There are details of past hosts in many of these event reviews.)I can also list confirmed gatherings on the events page of bl.ag online, just like these: Letterheads per lHorta in Almssera, Valncia, 14 May; Burds of the Brush in Berlin, 57 September; and Amsterdam Letterheads, Netherlands, 2830 August 2026.Crazy, or Not?I'll let you decide, but here's what original Letterhead Mark Oatis replied with when I floated the idea with him:"I do hope some satellite meetings ARE held. I wish I could attend every one."The scene at the 2023 Sydney Paint Jam, hosted by Ryan Donnelly and Emiel Saada at Emiel's Studio Mielo.More LetterheadsBLAG 07

BooksBookish Good Luck at McLellan Signs in Nampa, IdahoJay Smith embraces serendipity to add to his library of sign painting and lettering books.Better LettersJan 30, 2025 5 min readInside Elmore McLellan's copy of the Coast Manual of Lettering and Designs.For the 'Book Club' section of BLAG 07, we'll be taking a look back at some of the publications that inspired the original Letterheads. And drained the toner in more than one photocopier! Some of these now grace the shelves of Jay Smith in Boise, Idaho, and here he tells the story of his recent good fortune.McLellan Signs, Nampa, IdahoOn an otherwise innocuous Fall morning, I was making breakfast and boxed lunches for my daughters when I received a message from a good friend of mine who deals in estate sales. It contained a link to a Craigslist ad for a retirement sale at McLellan Signs, a local, generational sign shop; my interest was instantly piqued.Then, as I was driving the girls to school, I got a call from a local number. It was Scott McLellan, the owner of the shop in Nampa, Idaho. Another friend of mine in the antique business had given him my details, suggesting that I might be interested in some of the sign painting tools and equipment.I guess it was meant to be, and straight after the school run I drove the 35 km (20 miles) to Nampa to meet with Scott. He was the third generation to run the McLellan business, which was started by his grandfather Elmore 'Mac' McLellan in 1913 there can't be many shops in the world that can claim over 110 years of heritage!Three generations of the McClellan Sign Co. in 1982. From left: Scott, Don, and Elmore, the firm's founder.Scott and I spent hours discussing the history of signs in Idaho, techniques, tools, and every aspect of the trade. It's rare to meet someone with such a wealth of generational knowledge, and I soaked up everything I could from him.1950s press clipping, captioned: West Junior High School in Nampa is getting a new sign today the first since it became a junior high school in the fall of 1955. Don McLellan is shown painting the school's new name on the north side of the building. The old "Nampa High School" sign was covered before the painting job started.1957 billboard by Don McClellan, captioned: The sign was painted Monday at Stampede Stadium announcing that Eddy Arnold will be star of this year's Snake River Stampede, July 1620. Each year, name of the Stampede star is painted on the Highway 30 wall of the Stadium. Singer Arnold has sold more than 30,000,000 records in the past 10 years, which makes him one of the nation's leading recording artists, announced Stampede officials.After purchasing all of his hand-built workbenches, remaining cans of 1 Shot, his Electro-Pounce, some shelves, and everything else I could get my hands on, Scott unveiled what could be considered our trade's equivalent of the 'Dead Sea Scrolls'.In his hands were six tomes I had never before seen in-person, let alone touched. And, while I had electronic scans of some, downloaded from the Internet Archive, holding them was a mystical experience.These treasures were: Atkinson Sign Painting by Frank Atkinson (1916, 2nd edition); Atkinsons Last and Final Book on Sign Art (1950); Hendersons Sign Painter by John G. Ohnimus (1906, 1st edition); Modern Signs and Show Cards by E.C. Matthews (1951, 1st edition); 35 New Alphabets for Modern Brush Lettering (1931, 1st edition); and the Coast Manual of Lettering and Designs by Fred Knopf and J. M. Mahaffey (1907)."Atkinson" Sign Painting is available digitally from archive.org and via the Lettering Library.Another Atkinson classic among these extremely rare volumes. Henderson's Sign Painter is available online at the Library of Congress.The well-used copy of E.C. Matthews' Modern Signs and Show Cards.These books are well-worn, with personal inserts, clippings, and sketches inside, showing they were used daily in the shop by Scott's grandfather.A hand-rendered McClellan Signs bookplate inside the Coast Manual of Lettering and Designs.I couldn't afford them that day, having already bought nearly everything else. However, knowing how much I revered and cherished these books, Scott called me a couple days later with an offer I couldn't refuse. He knew they would be protected and respected in my hands, and wanted them to go to someone that truly appreciated these fountains of historical wisdom and technique.Tucked inside one of the books was this 'Half Block' alphabet from The Detroit School of Lettering.After a few weeks of saving client deposits and finishing jobs, I met with Scott and bought the books. To have them now in my collection is a dream come true.I can't wait to dive in, and I'm sure I'll be reading these with white gloves for the rest of my sign painting career.Thanks Scott, and wishing you a very happy retirement!Written by Jay SmithFor more from Jay Smith, check out his recent 'Mural School' experience, just one of the projects in the 'On the Brush' section of BLAG 06. More BooksMore History

BLAGThe BLAG 06 Digital CompanionBonus content from the adventures in sign painting in Issue 06 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).Better LettersJan 23, 2025 19 min readWork-in-progress on Elaine Wallis' sign painter portrait of Andrew McClellan at the American Sign Museum.As with previous issues, here is a deep dive into material that we couldn't squeeze into the pages of BLAG 06. As well as the pretty pictures, you'll also find videos, useful links, and further reading.I've set it up to follow the page order of the magazine, so that it serves as a digital companion to the print publication.Pillow GildThe photograph used for the poster insert by Veronika Jrgensen was taken by Brian Kure. While he was there he also captured this lovely reflective shot.Veronika Jrgensen reflecting on her 'Pillow Gild'. Photo: Brian Kure.Ye Olde Sign ShoppeHere is some more of the prolific output of Nicolo Granata in Caltanissetta, Sicily, shared by Serena Lanzalaco. And these are the two LussoGrafica books about his work.Mezzo Secolo di Pubblicit a Caltanissetta (Half a Century of Advertising in Caltanissetta) by the Marcel Duchamp AssociationL'uomo dal basco (The Man with the Beret) by Walter GuttadauriaShopfrontsSketch for the faade of the Marrocco fabric shop.The G. Falci toy shop, Salamone jewellers, and Michele Al patisserie.PackagingThis article is for paid subscribers only.Sign up to the Browser plan for access, or upgrade to Blagger for the added bonus of receiving BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) in print twice yearly.Subscribe nowAlready have an account? Sign in

BLAGWhat's Inside Issue 06 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine?Between the covers of the worldwide adventures in sign painting from Issue 06 of BLAG.Better LettersJan 16, 2025 7 min readBLAG 06 and the 'Pillow Gild' poster insert.The sixth installment of our adventures in sign painting craft, community, and culture is out now. Inside, you'll find work and contributions from 18 countries spanning five continents, so read on for an appetiser...BLAG 06 contains 80 pages packed with our latest adventures in sign painting from around the world. GIF and all magazine photography: Edgar Gonzalez.The magazine's 80 pages are once again completely free of advertising, thanks to members around the world . Then, sandwiched in the alphabetic centre spread, is our latest limited edition poster insert: a how-to for Veronika Jrgensen's 'Pillow Gild' effect.The poster came about after Veronika shared the results of a project on social media, and then kind of snowballed when I suggested it could make for a nice poster/instructional piece. So thank you Veronika for rolling with it, and to Brian Kure who took on the photography side of things.Inside each copy of BLAG 06 there's a folded poster insert with a step-by-step guide to creating the 'Pillow Gild' in reverse on glass.BLAG in print ships exclusively to members worldwide twice each year. Join today to get your first copy sent straight away.Join BLAGBLAG Meet: Inside Issue 06The BLAG Meet event for Issue 06 is happening on Saturday, 26 April. Register here for this free online event, and catch up on the recordings from previous events.On the CoverThe cover photo comes from the 'Pillow Gild' how-to that sits on the reverse of the poster insert. Gilding features a few times across the issue, which inspired the designers at UTILE to suggest a special foil finish for the masthead.A magnesium plate was created to apply the gold foil to the letter outlines. The cover photo is from Veronika Jrgensen's poster insert that shows how she created the 'Pillow Gild' effect.ContentsThe absence of advertising inside the magazine means that all 80 pages are packed with what we're all here for: the sign painting. From the longer features, to the tidbits in the 'Sundries' section, this content is intended to inform and inspire in equal measure, with a few pleasant surprises along the way.The BLAG 06 contents, showing the numerous articles, features, and sections that fill the issue. Before getting deeper into it, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors, whose support is a big part of making BLAG what it is:And to give a big shout out to BLAG's patrons: Blackout Signs & Metalworks; Chicago Sign Systems; Colossal Media; Dragging the Line; John Moran; Right Way Signs; Romana Schrift; Sepp Leaf Products; Skiltmaler Gundersen; Through the Wood Signs; and W&B Gold Leaf.BLAG patrons receive two copies of the magazine, in addition to recognition of their support in print and online. It's a good option for larger shops, or for those that want to gift a membership to someone less able to pay.American SignsOne of the three main features looks at the American Sign Museum's recent expansion, and the sign painting and gilding produced for the new 'buildings' on its flagship flagship Main Street exhibit.Also at the museum are drawings from Chicago's Beverly Sign Co., whose influence on sign design is explored in another feature from the authors of The Golden Era of Sign Design. (The book will soon be available in the BLAG Shop.)'Magic on Main Street at the American Sign Museum' and a spread from Kelsey & Andrew McClellan's piece on the enduring influence of Chicago's Beverly Sign Co.Books, Books, BooksIn addition to the Beverly Sign Co. book, this issue's 'Book Club' profiles publications from no less than five countries: Argentina, Belgium, Costa Rica, India, and The Netherlands.There's also a bookish theme for 'Inside Letterform Archive', where Stephen Coles introduces The Complete Commercial Artist from Japan, and the archive's new publication about this 1920s/30s periodical.Books in BLAG 06: The Complete Commercial Artist; Estudio de Fileteado Porteo; Arti Letterboek; Publi Fluor; Pura Vida, Costa Rica; and SADAK.The RegularsIn some of the other regular columns and sections, you'll find: San Francisco's secret palimpsests in 'Ghost Sign Corner'; thoughts and advice on pricing in 'Doing it the Right Way'; negative space in 'Interowriting'; painting dragons in 'The Sercrets of Fileteado Porteo'; and Rob Cooper's 'Inscribe' alphabet.Alice Mazzilli's adventures in writing continue in her latest 'Interowriting' column, while Gustavo Ferrari's next instructional is on painting the dragons of Fileteado Porteo.ProfilesEvery sign painter, and every firm connected with the trade, has their own story to tell, and the pages of BLAG once again feature a host of these. In addition to celebrating significant birthdays for A.S. Handover and Colossal Media, we get to meet Italy's Nicolo Granata in 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' and the Lee family behind Portland's Studio Sign Co. in the 'Shop Talk' column.This issue's 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' tells the story of Sicily's graphic design pioneer, Nicolo Granata, while Jenna Homen looks back at more than 60 years of Studio Sign Co. in her 'Shop Talk' column.Fernanda Martins introduces us to the unique output of Brazil's Nelson Stefanelli for our latest 'Lettering Location', while Vanessa Power builds on her research into the history of Irish mosaics by sharing her experience of trying out the medium.We once again 'Meet the Letterheads' at some recent events, while also remembering and honouring those that have left us: Hanif Kureshi, Brian Heppell, and Chris Mackenzie-Gray.Adventures mosaic making in Sligo, Ireland, and remembering those we have lost, but not forgotten.Projects'On the Brush' features ten projects from around the world, while the third main feature is a deep dive into sign painting for film and television, including a number of productions with work from the five profiled painters. (There's even more sign painting for film in the feature on Wes Anderson's French Despatch in BLAG 01.)'On the Brush' shares new, fun, and interesting projects from around the world, while BLAG 06 also has an extended feature profiling the work of sign painters on film and TV productions.End MatterAs always, the back of the issue is given over to 'Sundries', with some 'not safe for work' lettering and sign painting, more miniature goodness from Danielle McGurran (also see BLAG 03), an award-winning business card, and some fan art.'Wise Words' and 'Back to the Future' are some of the regulars in BLAG's 'Sundries' section.'Tools of the Trade' takes a look at the nifty proportion wheel, and there's also a full page cartoon with the humble mahl stick as its subject. It's creator, Hana Sunny Whaler, has also turned it into a tea towel, so go buy one and dry your dishes in style!ThanksMore than 65 contributors from around the world made BLAG 06 possible, and it was once again a pleasure to collaborate with so many brilliant people. Thank you all.Nothing happens without the members, patrons, and sponsors that fund all the work that goes into the magazine. Thank you! If you're not one already, then join today and receive everything above, and more, delivered directly to your mail/post box.Join BLAG HereFeatured bl.ag online articles and details of contributors, sponsors and patrons in BLAG 06.Thanks also to the wonderful team that brings the final print magazine to fruition: Jenna Homen on sub-editing; UTILE on design; SYL, The Art of Books on print; and Ra & Olly on distribution.Fonts in Use are Aktiv Grotesk by Dalton Maag and Utile by Sibylle Hagmann from Kontour.BLAG Back IssuesBLAG Meet

PeopleGetting (Back) Into It for 2025Advice on getting into the craft of sign painting from five people who have done just that.Better LettersJan 9, 2025 10 min readElisa Perz (Madame Letters) painting for the TACA Italian takeaway restaurant in Granada.One of 2024's most popular bl.ag online posts was 'Getting Into It' by Lauren Kerbel. This profiled the journeys and experiences of different sign painters around the world, and this year she's added another five people to the list. Read on for their stories, and advice for those just starting out in the business.If your resolution for 2025 is to pick up the brush, and you feel inspired by the wise words below, then make sure you get a copy of the Sign Painting book, and check out the various opportunities to learn the craft in-person and online.Sara Pasternak (Fine Letters)Sara sports a London Letterheads t-shirt on this project for an organic grocers and cafe.LocationFranceTrainingMike Meyer workshopLetterheads 2018 in LondonGed Palmers Script & Casual workshop in BarcelonaWhat are your creative interests and passions? How did they lead you to sign painting?I do hand-lettering and typographic artwork as often as I can. Im also interested in silkscreen printing, as well as linocut printing. I always keep an eye on street art, and art in general, and love travelling to cities where I can see different styles and crafts.Sara is based in the Bay of Biscay in southwest France, with all the associated seaside activities you'd expect.Im a particular lover of all things Japanese the language (which I studied for a few years), the culture and Japanese calligraphy. I guess I can say Im into letters. I always hated painting illustrations at school, but I love hand-lettering, which led me naturally to sign painting.A novel piece of livery work, and more projects from Biarritz and surrounds.Whats the best way to learn sign painting techniques today?I think learning at workshops is super interesting. We learn from great people who love to share the craft and their knowledge, but we also learn alongside other people. I think [sign painting] is one of these crafts and passions that you learn more about day after day. Meet, talk to, and watch others work, and never stop learning.Sara Pasternak (Fine Letters) / @sarapasternakBrigitte JaggiBrigitte learned the craft through a traditional apprenticeship.LocationSwitzerlandTrainingFour-year sign painting apprenticeshipWorkshopsSelf-taughtTraining as a craftswoman for the preservation of historical monumentsCan you tell us what your career path to sign painting looked like?Back in the 1990s, it was still possible to complete an apprenticeship as a sign painter in Switzerland. It lasted four years and was based on a dual education system, combining practical training with theory. I attended trade school on Mondays, a special class for calligraphy and lettering one evening a week, and the other four days I went to work and was given practical training by my two masters.Vehicles and gilded hotel room numbers are among the diverse projects in Brigitte's portfolio.How has your career changed over the years?Shortly after I completed my apprenticeship, the training regulations completely changed. From then on, sign painters were called sign makers, and worked mainly with computers, plotters, and vinyl. In order to continue working in my profession or what was left of it I had to teach myself how to use these machines and the software. I started my own business in 2005 and, over the years, I have been able to specialise more and more in hand-painted and gilded lettering, and thus going back to my roots.In 2023, I successfully completed my further education as a craftswoman for the preservation of historical monuments. It was an interdisciplinary training course in which painters, stuccoworkers, bricklayers, stonemasons, carpenters, gardeners, and woodworkers specialise in traditional techniques in their skilled trades.Heritage projects are a new line of work for Brigitte following her recent training.What barriers or challenges have you faced as a woman and business owner working in the industry?What I find very difficult are the disparaging comments and behaviour of some male customers. Especially at the beginning of my self-employment, I often heard that as a woman, my work should only be seen as my hobby and that I shouldn't demand money for it, ie I should consider it more of an honour to be able to work for them. Others didn't even greet me but explicitly only wanted to speak to 'the boss'. If my partner happened to be visiting my studio, they would address him as the boss; he always just smiled and referred them back to me.I'm glad that I now have much more experience in dealing with such situations and know how to handle people like that. I no longer put up with it. Nevertheless, I still find it hard to understand how, as a woman in business, you often have to do much more to be seen as a person. [See Rachel E Millar's article in BLAG 03 for more on this topic.]Brigitte Jaggi / @brigitte_jaggiAlinaKiliwaAlina is based in Mexico City, where the recent whitewashing of hand-painted signs took place.LocationMxicoTrainingGraphic design at Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (Autonomous University of Mxico)Calligraphy at the Society of Scribes and IlluminatorsWorkshops with Brian Yonki and Carga Mxima (see the bl.ag online article about this style from Peru) How did you start working in the industry? Did you work full time right away?I had a job at Correos de Mxico (the Mexican Postal Service) as a designer. In the afternoons and weekends I did freelance design and murals, and attended many urban art festivals. Eventually sign painting started to take up more of my time and I had to give up my full-time job to dedicate myself to painting that was approximately eight years ago.What road blocks have you run into along the way?Many older colleagues that I approached refused to teach me lettering techniques; many because I was a woman and many others because I was not part of their family. Others told me they didnt want competition because there wasnt enough work. I had a steep learning curve, which is why I like to share knowledge now in the workshops I teach. [Alina also has her own online course with Domestika.]Another barrier is that there are no professional-quality paints in Mexico, specifically enamels, so I have to ask acquaintances who travel to bring me good paints to use for some specific projects. Fortunately we have good brushes that are sold in a very famous store in Mexico City called Casa Serra.Whats the best way to learn about sign painting?Its always good to get to know others in the industry, whether they are in the same city or from other parts of the world. In general, younger painters tend to be more open to sharing knowledge.Attend workshops and meetups because you can learn so much from your peers. Now there are also so many in-person and online workshops to learn the trade.I think the only limit is having the desire to do it, and the discipline to practise a lot.AlinaKiliwa / @alinakiliwaElena Albertoni (La Letteria)LocationGermanyTrainingGraphic & Type DesignWhat drives the passion for your work?I'm very much in love with letterforms, regardless of their style, technology or application. I really enjoy the process of creating a visual identity by tweaking details of the letters, and I appreciate the variety and quality of old type and lettering.Personal project, and a detail from the transom window at Berlin's Gran Casino pizzeria. Photo (left): Yanina Isla.Theres something very special about our craft: making ideas tangible and creating unique, individualised objects. Unlike mass-produced, uniform designs, each piece carries its own character, shaped by materials like paint, gold leaf, and the variety of surfaces we work on.How did you learn the skills you use as a painter?My graphic design education gave me a solid foundation to work on layouts and colour schemes. My training in type design has also been invaluable to learn how to draw readable and consistent letters from scratch, and to develop a good eye over time. At the same time, it took me a while to shake off the reflex to perfect micro-details, which are completely useless when it comes to painted letters! Its more important to see the bigger picture and work quickly.Sketches and finished work from Elena's La Letteria studio in Berlin. Esst Obst (eat fruit) photo: Yanina Isla.When did you start painting full time, and what was that transition like for you?I started after taking some time off following the birth of my first daughter. My previous collaboration had also ended so I said to myself, "its now or never"!I had some side income from licensing my typefaces, but it was a rough start. Balancing motherhood with all aspects of running a business, in addition to learning on the job, was a challenge like no other.Making a living solely from sign painting is still far from easy, to be honest. While there have been fascinating projects and unique encounters over the years that keep me motivated, the job also comes with its share of stress and frustration that shouldnt be underestimated.Elena Albertoni (La Letteria) / @letteristaElisa Prez (Madame Letters)Elisa at work on the windows at Bonobo Training in Granada, Spain.LocationSpain / GermanyTrainingWorkshops with Adrian Prez, Jeff Marshall and Jakob EngbergCourses in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and TypographyCan you tell us what your career path to sign painting looked like?I was young and very lost (career-wise). But then again, who isn't? It took me some time to realise that all those Friday afternoons painting oil canvases with old ladies in the back of an art supply store had to mean something.I dont have a degree; I was always starting something to drop out later because it didnt feel right. In total I did one year of fine arts, one of graphic design, and a brief typography course. The first time I saw a sign painter was at a tattoo convention. I couldnt stop thinking about it, so I started looking for a beginners course.Gilded and painted windows by Elisa in Cdiz (The Line Club) and Granada, Spain.Where do you look for inspiration for your work?I think what drives me most in life is watching other craftspeople doing their thing: jewellery makers, ceramists, film photographers, calligraphers, tattoo artists I can relate to them and find tons of inspiration to do my thing.Besides that, at the risk of sounding clich, cartoons, cinema, and music were always very present in my childhood.These risograph-printed zines were a personal project, and its back on the brush for Barrio Specialty Coffee in Granada.A lot of us started sign painting while still working at another job. How did you make the transition from side hustle to a full-time career?I was working as a graphic designer in a start-up office for two years but resigned six months after taking my first sign painting workshop. I had enough money to survive one year without working, but I still worked as a calligraphy teacher once a week to make extra money.What advice would you give to anyone just starting out?Dont be hard on yourself. Follow your instinct and listen to your gut!Elisa Perz (Madame Letters)Interviews by Lauren Kerbel / @torontosignpainterThank you to all the sign painters that shared their experiences and work for this feature. Now it's your turn!More PeopleMore Learning

PeopleFrom Billboards to Balloons: Charlie Markert's Sky High ArtA career as a billboard pictorial artist paved the way into the niche of hot air balloon painting.Better LettersJan 2, 2025 3 min readThe incredible hot air balloon art of Charlie Markert.Sign painting often precedes different and tangential career paths, but few have moved into a niche quite as narrow as Charlie Markert and his work on hot air balloons. In the video below he describes himself as "really unique in what I did", and it was his extensive experience as a billboard pictorial artist that paved the way.The journey started while he was working for Naegele Outdoor in Minneapolis, and a request came in to have the Golden Grahams cereal packet painted on a hot air balloon. Charlie recalls exclaiming, "Oh my gosh, hot air balloons; that sounds interesting!", and the rest, as they say, is history, which Charlie recounts in this interview.Charlie Markert Interview on YouTube.Charlie Markert at work as a billboard pictorial artist for Pacific Outdoor in California.Charlie Markert following the move to Minneapolis and joining Naegele Outdoor.Work-in-progress and the finished hot air balloon from Charlie Markert's first commission for Golden Grahams and Whittaker Balloons.Charlie Markert at work in the barn that he remodelled for painting the fabric used for hot air balloons.Thank you to Brent Jones for bringing Charlie Markert's work to my attention. The photos below are of a restaurant they worked on together, and the picture at the top of this page is from a still from the The Most Beautiful Hot Air Balloon in the World on YouTube.More PeopleMore Films

2024 was my second full calendar year working on BLAG, having launched in April 2022. It's now six issues in (BLAG 06 ships in January), and things like the shop are now well-established, while BLAG Meet has become a staple for each issue. I continue to experiment with the BLAG Forum as a private space for members away from social media, but know that there is more potential to be realised there.All of this is made possible by those that pay for my work, and I'm happy to have welcomed around 100 new members over the last twelve months. I'm looking forward to the next year, and continuing to steadily grow and connect the community through the publication.Top Ten 2024The bl.ag online site now has well in excess of 200 articles and features straddling a broad range of sign painting and lettering topics. Just like 2022 and 2023, I've worked through the analytics to identify the ten most popular across the calendar year. Strictly, this should include pieces relating to BLAG back issues, but I've omitted these to keep the focus on stand-alone articles.However, I have included the three articles that made it two years running in the Top Ten, while Larry Stammer's piece for 'lefties' is the only piece to make three successive appearances in the extended Top Twenty: go lefties!It's been a pleasure to publish a variety of new contributors this year, and these are represented in the Top Ten below, which is once again dominated by the Learning and People categories. While some of the other categories might not feature, I will continue to maintain the breadth of what's published, as well as the international focus; both are important to me and what I'm doing with the publication.So, without further ado, here are the top ten bl.ag online articles for 2024, in reverse order...10. Doc Guthrie: A TributeFew have made a greater impact on contemporary sign painting than Doc Guthrie, and this extended tribute tells his story. (In fact, that influence is felt in this Top Ten, with two of the articles penned by LATTC alumni.)Doc Guthrie: A TributeTribute to Doc Guthrie, sign painter, mentor, and teacher on the LATTC Sign Graphics Program.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersDoc Guthrie in his LATTC Uniform. Photo: Mike Languein.9. Tips for Left-Handed Sign Painters from Larry StammersLarry's timeless article proves left-handedness should be no barrier to becoming a sign painter, provided you learn how to mitigate against some of the challenges it presents.Tips For Left-Handed Sign Painters from Larry StammersBeing left-handed is no barrier to becoming a sign painter, and these tips will help you get going.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersStrokes from Larry's guide for Lefties.8. Meet Earl Phillips: Cleveland's Greatest Living Sign PainterSome sign painters become an institution in their locale, none more so than Earl Phillips, whose story is captured in a wonderful biopic.Earl Phillips: Clevelands Greatest Living Sign PainterBiopic of Earl Phillips, proprietor of Clevelands U-Need-A-Sign Co. at 131st Street since 1960.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersEarl Phillips in 2018. Photo: John Skrtic.7. Getting Into It: Sign Painters' Stories Around the WorldThere's no single route into the trade these days, and Lauren Kerbel's piece profiles the journeys of six different sign painters around the world.Getting Into It: Sign Painters Stories Around the WorldSix sign painters tell the stories of their paths into the trade, and offer their advice to others.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersMichelle 'Meng' Nguyen is one of the six sign painters that tell us how they got into all this.6. Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of SignwritersThe stories of individual sign painters and sign shops are a personal favourite of mine, and the account of George Biles' life and work was a very special one to work on.Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of SignwritersThe diverse and prolific output of sign painter George Biles and his Bridport Signs Service Studios.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersGeorge Biles' work-in-progress on a 'Welcome to Bridport' sign.Also check out the retrospective exhibition of George Biles' work that was held in Bridport in August 2024.5. How to Prepare MDO Plywood for Sign PaintingHow to Prepare MDO Plywood for Sign PaintingStep-by-step guide to tools, materials and techniques to prepare MDO Plywood for exterior signs.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersAgustin McCord's step-by-step is once again in the Top Ten, up from eighth place last year. (The latest on his blog is 'Repainting a Sand Blasted Sign'.)Learn more about spackling paste in Agustin's guide.4. Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?This guide to ways to learn the craft includes listings of regular workshop providers around the world. The 'Events Roundup' email list is then where I share details of other events of note.Where Can I Learn the Craft of Sign Painting?Overview of sign painting workshops, courses, apprenticeships, and places to learn the craft online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersLiane Barker's workshops and online courses are profiled in the feature on ways to learn the craft of sign painting.3. The Basics of Letter Shades: Left, Right, Up and DownErwin Indrawan's guide continues to prove most useful, explaining the fundamentals of letter shades in a clear and accessible way.The Basics of Letter Shades: Left, Right, Up and DownAn introduction to the placement of shades on different types of lettering used in sign painting.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersFind out in Erwin Indrawan's guide.2. Why Lead Paint Makes Signs Last: A Toxic LegacyAfter years of seeking an explanation for this phenomenon, Jill Strong answered the call with this extended feature on the legacy of lead.Why Lead Paint Makes Signs Last: A Toxic LegacyAn account of the enduring (and highly toxic) legacy of lead paint on signs, and sign painters.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersLoaded with lead: 1 Shot Light Green. From Jill Strong's feature on lead paint.1. Intro to Foundational Sign Painting Strokes: The Gothic AlphabetAnd top spot in this year's list of the most popular bl.ag online articles goes to Jenna Homen's guide to the strokes of the Gothic alphabet.Intro to Foundational Sign Painting Strokes: The Gothic AlphabetBuilding the Gothic (Block) alphabet with tips on brush technique, materials, and practise strokes.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureJenna HomenStrokes and variants for painting curves from Jenna Homen's Gothic guide.Everything published at bl.ag online is made possible by BLAG's wonderful paid members, patrons, and sponsors. Join today to add your support to our adventures in sign painting, and independent, advertising-free publishing.Make it a Top 20And, as a small bonus, here are the articles that came in places 1120.11. Enjoy a Free Fileteado Porteo Lesson from Gustavo FerrariEnjoy a Free Fileteado Porteo Lesson from Gustavo FerrariStart learning the Fileteado Porteo artform via the new online course from Gustavo Ferrari.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters12. Meet the Letterheads: Keeping the Craft AliveMeet the Letterheads: Keeping the Craft AliveThe Letterheads movement continues to go from strength to strength as it nears its 50th anniversary.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters13. Reflections on the Impact of Sign Painters, Ten Years LaterReflections on the Impact of Sign Painters, Ten Years LaterSign Painters stars reflect on its influence, alongside those whose sign painting lives it changed.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters14. Bringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to LifeBringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to LifeAndy at AJ Signs in Dorset gives a new lease of life to a beautiful piece of Victorian glasswork.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters15. The Apprentice: Colossal StyleThe Apprentice: Colossal StyleInside Colossal Medias apprentice program, learning to paint large-scale mural advertising signs.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters16. Marketing Without Social Media: Advice for Your Creative BusinessMarketing Without Social Media: Advice for Your Creative BusinessThe problems with marketing creative businesses on social media, and alternatives to set you free.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters17. Peeling Back the Layers of Chrystel Crickx's Typographic LegacyPeeling Back the Layers of Chrystel Crickxs Typographic LegacyChrystel Crickxs novel contribution to lettering and type history is celebrated in a new book.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters18. An Origin Story of Sorts: Better LettersAn Origin Story of Sorts: Better LettersA decade ago, Better Letters launched. But its origins go back further, as Sam Roberts reflects.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters19. 60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs Story60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs StoryMaurie Barker founded Barker Signs in 1964, with his daughter Liane now keeping things hand-painted.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters20. An Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian StyleAn Introduction to Quick Showcard Lettering, Norwegian StyleReproduction, with English translation, of a rare Norwegian showcard lettering and layout booklet.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersHere are the Top Ten lists from 2022 and 2023, with even more inspiration from the articles and features at bl.ag online.2023BLAGs Top Ten for 2023, and Reflections on the YearRound-up of the years most popular articles from the adventures in sign painting at bl.ag online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters2022BLAGs Top Ten for 2022, and Reflections on the YearRound-up of the years most popular articles from the adventures in sign painting at bl.ag online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters

EventsSettle In for Your Seasonal Viewing from BLAGSix hours of talks, interviews, studio visits, and demonstrations from contributors to BLAG 05.Better LettersDec 19, 2024 4 min readThe nine recordings from the BLAG Meet event on 9 November 2024.BLAG Meet is a free online event that gives you the opportunity to meet and hear from contributors to each issue of the magazine.Below you can catch up with the recordings from BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 05, which took place on Saturday, 9 November 2024. Thank you to all the contributors and attendees that took part across the day.Visit bl.ag/meet for details of the next BLAG Meet on Saturday, 26 April, and to access to recordings from other events in this series.Inside BLAG 05These videos go a bit deeper into a selection of the articles and features in BLAG 05, and there's even more in the issue's digital companion, with bonus videos, documents, and additional images.The SessionsThe recordings from the following sessions can be viewed below in order of appearance.Alice Mazzilli challenging the idea of 'bad' handwriting, and framing this within her Interowriting concept.Henrik and Pontus from Sthlm Signs walking through their recent large-scale sign and scenery work for Lolo Co.'s office, giving insights into the process from inspiration to execution.Derek McDonald talking about his return to full-time work at Golden West Sign Arts following his extended adventures in sign painting at Disneyland.Jess Marsh Wissemann of Hired Hand Signs sharing a selection of projects where she has thought outside the box and taken her sign designs in new directions by getting creative with shapes, dimensions, and the use of novel materials.Noel B. Weber sharing work and stories from his 50-year career in signs, which has run in parallel with the Letterheads movement.Roger Warsop at Retroline Signs on growing up with signwriting, and his experience of learning the craft in Australia, defying the advance of printing technology, hosting the recent Letterheads meet, and his thoughts on the future of hand-painted signs.Stephen Coles at Letterform Archive introducing the prolific and diverse output of Michael Doret, with a focus on his process and what makes him an interesting lettering artist. Includes a look at the new book, Growing Up in Alphabet City.Gustavo Ferrari expanding on his how-to for painting the horses of Fileteado Porteo.BLAG editor Sam Roberts sharing the simple technology of RSS as an alternative way to follow eachother outside of mainstream social media, with reference to the Dapper Signs blog.The RecordingsThis article is for subscribers only.Sign up for a free membership to unlock sign painting resources and the latest news.Subscribe nowAlready have an account? Sign in

EventsMartre Meets Again, and the Competition is FierceSign painters collaborate on a series of shopfronts for the second Martre gathering in France.Better LettersDec 12, 2024 6 min readWinning work-in-progress at Martre 2024.For the second year of France's Martre gathering, it was a case of (paint) shop 'til you drop for the assembled sign painters. Hosts Tristan Gesret (@etsgesret) and AdelineLe Broc had erected a dozen blank shopfronts on 'Rue de la Martre', and the teams of three drew lots to see which they would be furnishing with signs.The concept for Martre 2024 was a street of shops decorated with signage from different eras.The briefs included the shop typebakery, pharmacy, cheesemonger, etcand the era in which it was to be styled. In addition to the faade, other signage elements were required, including work on the glass panel in the door, and a blade sign or A-board to be displayed outside.All of this had to be designed and produced on the second day of the event, and to add a little extra motivation, there were prizes up for grabs for the top three teams.Ready, Set, Go!The energy levels were high as the teams collaborated to get to the finish line with the best possible final output.Adding a shade to the bakery's fascia sign.Action stations on Rue de la Martre.It's neck and neck in the race for prizes.Gilded windows, A-boards, and more were created by the teams for their allocated shops.The Paint BarTo increase the efficiency of the work in hand, a new innovation for Martre 2024 was the introduction of a 'paint bar'. This allowed the sign painters to get their cups filled and topped up in the required colours by a professional pigmentista.The paint bar was well stocked with colours from 1-Shot and Unikalo.Job Done!After two days of blood, sweat, and paint, the final set of shopfronts made for an impressive Rue de la Martre display.Rue de la Martre in all its finished glory.Top of the ShopsOn the third and final day, the finished shops were judged, and prizes were awarded to the three winning teams.Pharmacy (1901)In first place it was Morgane Cme, Bruno Durand, and Lucas Teyssier with their fin de sicle (turn-of-the-century) pharmacy.Art Nouveau is the remedy.In good health: winners Bruno Durand, Morgane Cme, and Lucas Teyssier.Wines & Liqueurs (1949)The silver medal went to Antoine Paquier, Tania Rodier, and Pierre Raveleau for their 1949 wine merchants.Faux panels, gilded embellishments, and a novel blade sign for the wine and liqueur shop.Antoine Paquier, Pierre Raveleau, and Tania Rodier before heading off for a drink to celebrate.Butcher-Delicatessen (1894)Last but not least in the ranking shopfronts was the late nineteenth century butcher-delicatessen by Etienne Renard, Victor Bert, and Matthieu Verlaine.More gilded goodness and a bovine prop to finish things off at Le Broc.Victor Bert, Matthieu Verlaine, and Etienne Renard with their meaty haul.Everyone's a WinnerHere are the other nine projects completed at Martre 2024. Can you guess the era for each one?Completing the dozen Martre 2024 projects are these nine shops decked out over the first two days of the event.Same Again?With two years under their belt, Tristan and Adeline are already planning for the third Martre gathering in 2025, adding that this year:"We were thrilled to bring all these people together, and the result was incrediblethere was a truly impressive level of skill and talent on display. The discussions and exchanges led to the creation of a French sign painters' association, marking a significant gathering for the community in France. We witnessed some amazing work that will undoubtedly inspire exciting projects in the future."Martre 2024 was made possible with support from the following organisations: A.S. Handover; Le Gant des Beaux-Arts; Le Laboureur; Pinceaux Lonard; Pinstriping France Kustom; La Trinitaine.This blade sign suggests that Martre is here for good.More MartreMore Letterheads

PeopleIrish Mosaics: From Roscommon to the WorldVanessa Power gets inspired by Thomas Kilroe, the creative force behind Roscommon's Irish Mosaics.Better LettersDec 5, 2024 8 min readDetail from a nineteenth century mosaic restored by Thomas Kilroe at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.Roscommon is a small town in the centre of Ireland and home to Irish Mosaics, a business whose output reaches across, and well beyond, the island. Ahead of a piece about her own adventures in mosaic making for BLAG 06, Vanessa Power caught up with Thomas Kilroe who has been plying his trade in tiles for over 60 years. Now semi-retired, he offers his reflections on a life in tesserae.Irish Mosaics: From Roscommon to the WorldBy Vanessa PowerMosaics are a distinctive, charming feature of the Irish urban landscape, but for many years they were imported into the country. That changed in 1954 when John Crean, alongside craftspeople brought over from Italy, founded Irish Mosaics in Roscommon. His vision was to blend traditional Italian techniques with modern designs to advance the art of mosaics in Ireland.Some classic Irish mosaics blending lettering, pictorial, and decorative elements. The Mullaney Bros. and Lyons Cafe entranceways are in Silgo, while those for Ryan's and the Stag's Head are in Dublin. The Stag's Head is one of Dublin's most famous mosaics and was restored by Irish Mosaics.Irish Mosaics' work was commissioned for use in various settings, including private homes, public spaces, and religious buildings. In addition to its work in Ireland, the aesthetic appeal and cultural significance of the company's creations led to major projects for the export market. In a business traditionally dominated by Japanese, Italian, and some English makers, John Crean supplied and installed mosaics in Australia, England, Nigeria, and the USA.Enter Thomas KilroeThomas Kilroe joined Irish Mosaics as an apprentice straight after finishing school, and went on to run the company. He continued the legacy that John Crean began, crafting bespoke mosaics for homes and businesses across Ireland. His mosaic art projects enhance both public and private spaces, including churches, schools, pubs, shops, hotels, and community spaces.A 24-hour sundial mosaic by Thomas Kilroe/Irish Mosaics. Everything is produced in reverse on backing paper, which is then removed after the finished mosaic has been transported and flipped over onto the adhesive during installation.Kilroe's mosaics are renowned for their artistry and the stories they convey through the meticulous arrangement of carefully cut tiles. This timeless beauty and cultural significance have made many of his entranceway mosaics in Dublin pubs and shops treasured landmarks of the city. I was lucky to meet him recently, and had the opportunity to ask some questions.Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in mosaics?My name is Thomas Kilroe. I went to school with two of my best friends, whose father started a mosaic business in the fifties. By the time I saw it, it was already well-established. Spending time with my school pals and witnessing the beautiful work being done, I became fascinated and couldnt wait to finish school and start working there. Growing up on a farm, this seemed like a far more appealing option than farming.How did you begin your professional journey in mosaics?I started an apprenticeship with Irish Mosaics. I was fortunate because the Italians working there, particularly Luciana de Paoli, became my mentor. As I progressed, he gave me more intricate work, always encouraging me. Romeo Vasistello specialised in the fixing end of the mosaics. In the sixties, there was a lot of church work with new churches being built. I nearly served my time with the five rosary churches in Cork: Wilton, Mayfield, and others. It was wonderful because now you wouldnt have the opportunity to do such large-scale mosaics.What kind of projects have you worked on in recent years?For the last 20 years of my working life, I mainly did restoration. In the National Museum and the National Library. The cathedrals, churches, and chapels, like the Mater Hospital chapel in Belfast and the Good Shepherd Convent in Belfast. I worked on six churches or chapels and two cathedrals in Belfast. The church work was my favourite.These mosaics at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin were originally produced in the nineteenth century by Manchester-based artistLudwig Oppenheimer. They were then covered for decades until being cleaned and restored in by Thomas Kilroe in 2011.How did changes in the industry affect your career?I worked for Irish Mosaics, but then the boss died, and the regime changed. They had very little interest in the art. They bought it to use up the materials. They got their money back from me doing that, but I had no time for it and started moving out. When work became scarce, I took little subcontracts from various people in the mosaic, tiling, and terrazzo business, mainly in Dublin. A lot of it was very commercial, like doing panels on the facades of buildings and shop fronts.Can you share some unique projects you've done over the years?I did work for the Irish Pub Company, doing mosaic doorways, behind the counter, sometimes the front of the counter with the pub's name, and a graphic element like a Celtic design. Guinness designs too, until they asked us to work for them.Irish Mosaics projects with lettering elements.What is your approach to creating mosaics?Sometimes I work from designs the client presents. If they want me to come up with a design, I do the design, enlarge it, and draw it on the paper in reverse. Then I use my hammer to make it up. In recent years, I don't install them myself: I present the mosaic to the clients, packaged for their tradesmen to fix. But in the old days, we did the entire thing. Few of us did all the art, the craft of putting the tesserae together, and the trade of fixing it in place. At 81 years of age, I regard it more as a hobby now. I wouldn't take on any big jobs. I've had a good innings.Created for a television commercial, the Bulmers taglineNothing added but timewas particularly fitting for the mosaic-themed ad. This was doubly so, as Kilroe actually had to create the lettering on the bottle twice. He'd initially peeled the label off a bottle to use as a reference for drawing the letters, but once the mosaic was finished, he noticed the lettering was off because the logo on the label had been slightly tapered to fit the curve of the bottle. This meant the mosaic didnt translate correctly, and he had to start over.What is the most enjoyable part of the process for you?Deciding how to go about doing it. The planning. Waking up and reimagining the design. Sometimes changing it and starting again.Is there a piece in your portfolio that you're most proud of?There are so many. As a young man, I got a kick out of learning and seeing the job done, thinking it would last 20 years. Now, 60 years later, I'm still looking at them. They last too long.One of Thomas Kilroe's first mosaics from his days as an apprentice, which still looks fresh all these years later.What kept you motivated throughout your career?Job satisfaction is a big part of it. I could have made more money doing other things, but my mother let me stay in school, which stood to me in other ways. I even went back to study in my forties, doing a course at the Irish Management Institute. But mosaics were my passion. I had to get back to it even after working with Wagstaff & Wilson, a jewellery wholesale company. I became the branch manager but decided it wasn't for me and went back to mosaics.Did you mentor anyone in the field of mosaics?I had about four different apprentices over the years, but they weren't as lucky as I was to have someone with great experience. They might be good at the trade, but I was fortunate to work with top-class people.Do you have any tips for people looking to get into mosaics?The same tips I'd give to anyone becoming a painter or sculptor: dedication and patience. Look at lots of mosaics, see the good ones, and learn what makes a good mosaic.Any advice you'd give your younger self? Would you change anything?No. I've been lucky, first with my mother letting me finish school, then meeting the right people. I got the opportunity to travel to America and work, but I'm happy to point to all the work I've done over the years.Excellent. What's next for you?I might start a small sketch in the morning and expand on it. Just keep doing what I love.Thomas Kilroe in his happy place, setting down tile after tile for his next creation.Article and interview by Vanessa Power / @signsofpowerMore PeopleMore History

EventsThe Burds Are Back in Town, and It's BristolTozer Signs hosts the third Burds of the Brush meet with a Halloween theme in Bristol, UK.Better LettersNov 28, 2024 5 min readThe moment they knew their future was in hand-painted signs and lettering.The 'Burds of the Brush' (see BLAG 03) movement was back for its third edition last month, and host with the most Tozer Signs is here to share what went down in Bristol town.The Burds in action in Bristol. Burds of the Brush in BristolLast month I hosted the third annual Burds of the Brush; a two-day event welcoming female, trans and non-binary signwriters from the world to my little corner of Bristol. With it being mid October, and me being Queen of Halloween, I had to add a little spooky spin, so the local community hall was adorned with bats and ghosts, as well as the usual pile of dibond panels, paints kindly sponsored by A.S. Handover, and easels crafted with the help of my partner Cobra Signs when I realised I had a little too much on my plate!**For anybody considering hosting a Letterheads meet of any kind, accept help in whatever form it comes in, be that heavy lifting, reaching out to potential sponsors, decor, filling the tea dispenser 50 times a day, etc.Halloween-themed decoration and event signage.There were over 50 attendees, ranging from those with 20 or 30 years' experience, to complete beginners interested in seeing what its all about, to those like me who have about a decade behind them and are still learning everyday.Panel jamming.Rachel and Hana of Bungo Sign Co. held the first edition of Burds of the Brush two years ago in Scotland (see BLAG 03), and passed on the feedback that participants would love a workshop or two. I managed to pull in a few experts to give demonstrations, expecting only a few to leave their easels to watch these. However, almost everyone paused their panels to see Hana Sunny Whaler leading a fantastic layout workshop, Veronika Jrgensen holding an oil gilding and burnishing demo, and Ellie Heywood showing her incredible calligraphy with the help of Pilot pens. (Pilot kindly gifted each attendee a beginners pack, and A.S. Handover sent over bespoke stamped brushes specially for the event.)Surface gilding with Veronika Jrgensen.Over the entire weekend, guests collaborated on a mural for the community centre that hosted us, which was laid out by Hana Sunny Whaler. We also held an auction at the end with almost 3,000 raised for Bristol Animal Rescue Centre.Hana Sunny Whaler and Miranda Ensink (Amsterdam Sign Painters) doubling up on the Windmill Hill Community Centre mural.All in all it was an incredibly fun, wholesome weekend, allowing seasoned pros and some first timers to ease into the Letterheads spirit in a way they felt comfortable with.And Ive already received questions about when and where the 2025 edition of Burds will be held! Who wants to take it on?Report: Tozer Signs / @tozersignsPhotography: Siddiqui Media / @siddiqui_mediaPaints, Burds, and vibes.The Scottish Burds unveiled the movement's new banner; definitely not no frills."We rise by lifting others."Host with the most: Tozer Signs.More LetterheadsBLAG 03This issue, available in the BLAG shop, has Rachel E Millar's article reflecting on the first ever Burds of the Brush event in Glasgow.Future Meet Listings

FilmsNow Streaming: Married to Comics by John KinhartComic artists Justin Green and Carol Tyler profiled in this feature-length documentary.Better LettersNov 21, 2024 2 min readCarol Tyler's relationship with Justin Green forms part of her autobiographical comic books.Something I neglected to mention in my 'Signs of the Summer' post was the screening of Married to Comics that I attended/organised at the Rio Cinema in Dalston, London. The good news for those that have been unable to catch it on the big screen is that it's now streaming.Stream Married to ComicsThe film is a feature-length documentary about the life and work of two pioneers in the genre of autobiographic comics: Justin Green (RIP) and Carol Tyler. (You may recall Justin from his Sign Game strips and/or the Sign Painters film.) As the title suggests, they were married to each other, with their relationship and individual perspectives on it creating much of the film's intrigue. on Vimeo.Contributors to the film include luminaries such as Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman, who discuss the profound influence that Green and Tyler's comics had on them. And, for sign painting folk, there's a lovely segment with Green discussing his Sign Game series for Signs of the Times magazine, which he describes as some of his favourite work.I recommend setting aside a couple of hours this weekend to take a trip into Green and Tyler's minds, and to learn about the remarkable lives and work that emerged from them.Married to Comics is available via different streaming services. If you are outside the USA then you may need to install a VPN to access it. (Independent productions like this always benefit from ratings and reviewsyes, for the algorithm!so be sure to leave one if you do watch it.) Thank you to John Kinhart and Carol Tyler for all of the work that has gone into the film, and for now making it available online after its time at the festivals.More FilmsMore People

PlacesSignwriting-on-Sea: The Rich Craft Heritage of Hastings, East SussexCharlie Nelson on Hasting's signwriting history, and how the town continues to embrace the craft.Better LettersNov 14, 2024 6 min readThe Jolly Fisherman, lettered by Rob Finn, one of Hastings' active signwriters.In some parts of the world, painted signs have persisted as go-to for high street businesses. When it's widely employed in this way, sign painting lends a particular character to a location, and in the case of Hastings, East Sussex, this comes laced with history. Charlie Nelson has been peeling away the layers to learn more about the town's sign painters, past and present.Signwriting-on-Sea: The Rich Craft Heritage of HastingsBy Charlie NelsonRobert Tressell, as author of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, is arguably the UKs most famous sign painter. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he lived and worked in Hastings, East Sussex, where, 120 years later, the seaside towns embrace of all things hand-painted persists. This rich heritage is due to local sign painters that refused to put down their brushes in the face of technological change, and who continue to produce quality work for a tight-knit community that values it.Robert Tressell and his 1905 mural for St. Andrew's Church, restored in 1982.Hastings Sign Painting PastIn addition to his own work, Tressell was also employed for a time by the Adams & Jarrett firm. Like many companies from that era, they were a one-stop-shop for much more than just sign painting, as their one-time premises and a large gable-end mural sign testify.This gable end mural sign was painted by Robert Tressell for Adams & Jarrett.Adams & Jarrett's capabilities extended well beyond sign painting.While those Adams & Jarrett pieces can no longer be seen, there is plenty of vintage work to feast your eyes on in Hastings. The majority of this survives as ghost signs in the Old Town, and many are noteworthy for their quality of execution and relatively good condition.Ghost signs in Hastings Old Town at the site of the old Swan Hotel, and for the A.W. Foster piano and organ merchants.The Curious Case of T. NoakesOne of the towns better-known ghost signs is for T. Noakes. Just like Adams & Jarrett, Noakes offered plumbing and glazing services in addition to his sign painting and gilding work.The ghost of T. Noakes on Croft Road, Hastings. Photo: Mark Novotny / History of Advertising Trust Ghostsigns Archive.The sign likely dates from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, so I was surprised to spot a T. Noakes signature on a sign painted in 2009. I began to wonder if there was perhaps a Noakes dynasty of Hastings sign painters...This sign on George Street, Hastings, was painted in 2009, and is a replica of a c.1830s trade card for the S. Roberts boot and shoe makers that once traded from the address.Enter Rob FinnMaking enquiries around town, one name kept cropping up with people I spoke to: Rob Finn. While his work is ever-present in Hastings these days, you wont find Finn anywhere online. Where you will find him is up a ladder in the Old Town, which is easily done in a small place like Hastings. It didnt take me long to track him down, and eventually we met so that he could share his knowledge of all things Noakes.It turns out that T. Noakes on the Croft Road ghost sign and T. Noakes that painted the S. Roberts sign are different people, and unrelated. Noakes is a fairly common name in East Sussex, and it's just a coincidence that these two share an initial and a trade. While Rob doesnt know a lot about the older Noakes, he was very close to his more contemporary namesake.Passing It OnTerry Noakes (19452014) was a sign painter from the old school, with painting and decorating also among his skillsets. He got started in the trade with the firm A.H. Dearing, specialists in lettering commercial vehicles, and worked in and around Hastings for his entire career.Terry Noakes painting a lorry in Clarendon-style letters with a layout that just consists of two horizontal lines and a few white chinagraph marks. The brush, selected to match the weight of the thin strokes, is doing all the work as it coats in one hit with some lead-heavy white.For many years, Terry shared a workspace with the graphic designer and sign painter Peter Thompsett. While they were technically competitors, Peter was more into graphic and pictorial work, while Terry was very much an old school letterman. Terry regularly worked late, churning through a hectic workload, and it was these evening shifts that provided Rob with the opportunity to learn the craft of sign painting.Fresh out of school in the 1980s, Rob had a day job at Wadley Keith Signs in nearby Eastbournecutting vinyl, silkscreening, and producing all types of fabricated signsbut he spent as much time as he could at Terrys shop, observing and helping out where he could. He watched and learned how to paint letter shapes, eventually reaching a point where he could go it alone and carry on the lineage of accomplished Hastings sign painters.These business cards from Rob Finns collection convey the character of those that he worked with and, in turn, those that they worked with. The Signwriters card with the cartoon character advertised the shared studio of Terry Noakes and Peter Thompsett.On the Shoulders of GiantsRob is aware of the legacy that he continues, and is utterly fascinated by it. He has spent many hours in Hastings Library looking through old trade directories and learning as much as he can about those that came before him. He has also compiled photo albums of work by many different local sign painters, which inform his own output through the study of letters, layouts and colours. This, and his years of dedication to the craft, have given him a confidence and a tightness of line achieved with just a yardstick, stabilo, and fine sable brush.In spite of all this, Rob remains humble, and somewhat baffled that there would be a contemporary audience for this kind of story. For him, its just his work, and tough work at that, with all the stresses and strains of being up and down a ladder, and dodging the rain and cold. His modesty masks Rob's own lasting entry into the sign painting history of this seaside town, which is now inspiring the next generation of local painters, myself and Jay Holland (@greateropacity) included.Written by Charlie Nelson / @fundi_signsSigns by Rob FinnMore HistoryMore Places

HistoryA Fascinating Collection of Hungarian Sign Painting Photos, 19061976Women feature prominently in these archival images of signs and sign painters at work in Hungary.Better LettersNov 7, 2024 5 min readOutlining with a mahl stick as a straight edge in Hungary, 1976. Photo: Fortepan / FFOT.Tom Koch is currently working on a museum project for the Austrian city of Eisenstadt, which will include a permanent sign painting exhibit. To give context to some of the objects, he asked if I had any archival photos of sign painters at work. In addition to various 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' posts, I shared some other pictures from my collection, including this one from Hungary in 1965.Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV (97080).I can't recall where I got the photo, but Tom quickly tracked down its original source in the brilliant Fortepan photographic archive. Searching within this, he then unearthed even more archival sign and sign painting photos from Hungary. The pictures span a period of 70 yearsfrom 1906 to 1976and show work in progress on a variety of different sign types.One thing that immediately struck me was how prominently women sign painters feature among the photos, and I wondered why. It turns out that the majority of them were taken during Hungary's Communist era, which Wikipedia describes as a time when women had "greater access to secondary and university education, especially in technical fields" and were "included in the workforce in a more equal way". These images bear that out, and buck the trend of most archival sign painting photos that I've seen to date.The following are presented in reverse chronological order for your enjoyment, and thank you Tom for sharing this wonderful collection.1970sThis series of six photos were all taken in the same sign shop in 1976, but there are no details of its name or location.Photos: Fortepan / FFOT.Here are some closer crops.Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207023).Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207022).Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207020).Livery work in progress at the IKARUS bus factory in Budapest, 1976.Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV (99391).Bareback brushwork, 1976.Photo: Fortepan / FFOT (207025).Publicity for a jazz festival in Cegld, 1970.Photo: Fortepan / Pterffy Istvn (142627).A closer look at some of those letters.Photo: Fortepan / Pterffy Istvn (142627).1960sAdding a shade to some transom lettering in Gyr, 1966.Photo: Fortepan / Kriss Gza (191969).Photo: Fortepan / Kriss Gza (191969).Heraldry practise at an art college in Pcs, 1963.Photo: Fortepan / Hunyady Jzsef (107131).Mural signs in Budapest, 1961.Photo: Fortepan / Mra Andrs (114992).Father and son? 1960.Photo: Fortepan / Rcz Vekerdi Gyuln (250188).1950sTank insignia from Budapest in 1956, the year of the Hungarian Revolution.Photo: Fortepan / Kurutz Mrton (12337).Kcs village in 1953. Kacsa (no accent on the first a) means 'duck', and the village joker at work is the Hungarian painter and graphic designer Szalai Zoltn.Photo: Fortepan / Szalai Zoltn (204500).1943That's a huge mahl stick!Fortepan / Wein Sarolta (19703).1938An airbrush is also being used to paint this film poster for Black Diamonds.Photo: Fortepan / Fortepan (26394).Teamwork makes the dream work: adding a long text to the agricultural scenes on this mural.Photo: Fortepan / Ormos Imre Alaptvny (173220).1906This is the oldest image in the collection, with a mixture of pictorial and lettering work in progress.Photo: Fortepan / Zichy kria, Zala (263436).Photo: Fortepan / Zichy kria, Zala (263436).Bonus PhotosThere are also some nice photos from outside of Hungary in the collection.Ludwigsfelde, Germany, 1966This sign painter is adding monthly performance data to this board outside the IFA truck factory: unser ziel (our goal) and planerfllung (plan fulfillment).Photo: Fortepan / Bojr Sndor (179542).Photo: Fortepan / Bojr Sndor (179542).Prague, Czech Republic, 1960Aging neon and a painted billboard; what's not to like!Photo: Fortepan / UWM Libraries (259136).Photo: Fortepan / UWM Libraries (259133).Fortepan is a copyright-free and community-based photo archive with over 100,000 photographs available for anyone to browse and download in high-resolution, free of charge. It currently contains 36 photos tagged with 'sign painter'.More Ye Olde Sign ShoppeMore History

HistoryA Facinating Collection of Hungarian Sign Painting Photos, 19061976Women feature prominently in these archival images of signs and sign painters at work in Hungary.Better LettersNov 7, 2024 5 min readOutlining with a mahl stick as a straight edge in Hungary, 1976. Photo: Fortepan / FFOT.Tom Koch is currently working on a museum project for the Austrian city of Eisenstadt, which will include a permanent sign painting exhibit. To give context to some of the objects, he asked if I had any archival photos of sign painters at work. In addition to various 'Ye Olde Sign Shoppe' posts, I shared some other pictures from my collection, including this one from Hungary in 1965.Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV (97080).I can't recall where I got the photo, but Tom quickly tracked down its original source in the brilliant Fortepan photographic archive. Searching within this, he then unearthed even more archival sign and sign painting photos from Hungary. The pictures span a period of 70 yearsfrom 1906 to 1976and show work in progress on a variety of different sign types.One thing that immediately struck me was how prominently women sign painters feature among the photos, and I wondered why. It turns out that the majority of them were taken during Hungary's Communist era, which Wikipedia describes as a time when women had "greater access to secondary and university education, especially in technical fields" and were "included in the workforce in a more equal way". These images bear that out, and buck the trend of most archival sign painting photos that I've seen to date.The following are presented in reverse chronological order for your enjoyment, and thank you Tom for sharing this wonderful collection.1970sThis series of six photos were all taken in the same sign shop in 1976, but there are no details of its name or location.Photos: Fortepan / FFOT.Here are some closer crops.Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207023).Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207022).Photos: Fortepan / FFOT (207020).Livery work in progress at the IKARUS bus factory in Budapest, 1976.Photo: Fortepan / UVATERV (99391).Bareback brushwork, 1976.Photo: Fortepan / FFOT (207025).Publicity for a jazz festival in Cegld, 1970.Photo: Fortepan / Pterffy Istvn (142627).A closer look at some of those letters.Photo: Fortepan / Pterffy Istvn (142627).1960sAdding a shade to some transom lettering in Gyr, 1966.Photo: Fortepan / Kriss Gza (191969).Photo: Fortepan / Kriss Gza (191969).Heraldry practise at an art college in Pcs, 1963.Photo: Fortepan / Hunyady Jzsef (107131).Mural signs in Budapest, 1961.Photo: Fortepan / Mra Andrs (114992).Father and son? 1960.Photo: Fortepan / Rcz Vekerdi Gyuln (250188).1950sTank insignia from Budapest in 1956, the year of the Hungarian Revolution.Photo: Fortepan / Kurutz Mrton (12337).Kcs village in 1953. Kacsa (no accent on the first a) means 'duck', and the village joker at work is the Hungarian painter and graphic designer Szalai Zoltn.Photo: Fortepan / Szalai Zoltn (204500).1943That's a huge mahl stick!Fortepan / Wein Sarolta (19703).1938An airbrush is also being used to paint this film poster for Black Diamonds.Photo: Fortepan / Fortepan (26394).Teamwork makes the dream work: adding a long text to the agricultural scenes on this mural.Photo: Fortepan / Ormos Imre Alaptvny (173220).1906This is the oldest image in the collection, with a mixture of pictorial and lettering work in progress.Photo: Fortepan / Zichy kria, Zala (263436).Photo: Fortepan / Zichy kria, Zala (263436).Bonus PhotosThere are also some nice photos from outside of Hungary in the collection.Ludwigsfelde, Germany, 1966This sign painter is adding monthly performance data to this board outside the IFA truck factory: unser ziel (our goal) and planerfllung (plan fulfillment).Photo: Fortepan / Bojr Sndor (179542).Photo: Fortepan / Bojr Sndor (179542).Prague, Czech Republic, 1960Aging neon and a painted billboard; what's not to like!Photo: Fortepan / UWM Libraries (259136).Photo: Fortepan / UWM Libraries (259133).Fortepan is a copyright-free and community-based photo archive with over 100,000 photographs available for anyone to browse and download in high-resolution, free of charge. It currently contains 36 photos tagged with 'sign painter'.More Ye Olde Sign ShoppeMore History

HistoryWhat is Sign Painting? Or Even Signwriting?Getting under the skin of the fundamental term used to describe the trade and how it's interpreted.Better LettersOct 24, 2024 9 min readAn earlier colour scheme painted by Mike Meyer for , which later settled on blue letters with a red shade.Mike Meyer once told me the story of some small talk he had at a border control point. The conversation went something like this:Officer: So, what do you do for a living?Mike: I'm a sign painter.Officer: What's that then?Mike: \_()_/Despite the very literal and descriptive nature of the term, it seems that not everyone can deduce what would seem obvious: that a sign painter paints signs. Perhaps this stems from the common misconception of sign painting as 'a dying art'; most sign painters have heard something along the lines of 'you don't see much of that about any more' while painting.But is there more to the name of the trade, and its practitioners? The simple answer is 'no', but I thought it would nonetheless be interesting to look at its emergence, and current usage.The Second Oldest ProfessionI can't remember who quipped that sign painting is the second oldest profession, but there is a connection to the first at the ruins in Pompeii. Painted in 79AD, or earlier, this advertisement for a brothel is not the only example of commercial signage painted on walls there.Hand-painted advertising for a brothel in Pompeii. Photo by Will Collin, originally featured on the Ghostsigns blog.It is largely accepted, thanks to the work of Edward Catich, that Roman inscriptions were first painted onto stone using a flat brush. This brushwork also extended to pieces that were never going to be carved: painted lettering remains at Pompeii and Herculaneum in the form of commercial and political communications. So the craft does have some history behind it, but maybe 'second oldest profession' is pushing things just a little.Painters Turned Sign PaintersFast forward to the eighteenth century, and sign painting was once again alive and well in Britain. Pictorial painters were found painting signs, using this to provide, or supplement, their incomes. The building trades, notably painter-decorators, plumbers and glaziers, also applied themselves to the craft.This article is for subscribers only.Sign up for a free membership to unlock sign painting resources and the latest news.Subscribe nowAlready have an account? Sign in

LearningA Basic Guide to Gilding Tools, Materials, and TerminologyBreaking down the jargon around gold and metal leaf, gilding tools, and lots more golden nuggets.Better LettersSep 19, 2024 15 min readRemoving excess gold after painting the lettering on the back of a gilded glass panel.Following her introduction to the techniques and processes used in architectural gilding, I invited Leah Beth Fishman to pen the following guide to gilding tools, materials, and terminology.This extended feature breaks down various important concepts that will help you when setting up to work with different types of metal leaf, and includes:What is Gilding?Types of GildingTools & TerminologyTypes of LeafFormats of LeafSuppliersIf you are interested in learning how to gild, including for sign work, check out the online and in-person opportunities at bl.ag/learn, the Gold Leaf Techniques book, and the resources available from the Society of Gilders.What is Gilding?A deceptively broad or narrow term depending on how you look at itmany people think it encompasses everything from electroplating to kiln-red enamels, and even just gold paint. Some think it only refers to the use of actual gold leaf. Some people ask me, so, you just, like, paint on the gold?In truth, it is simply the process of applying gold or any other type of metal leaf to any surface. Variants of gilding originated over 8,000 years ago and can be seen in artifacts from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia before coming into widespread use in Europe and beyond.Gold beating in ancient Egypt.Different materials have been used over the centuries to apply goldegg whites, Japanese lacquer, various forms of alcohol, even salivabut the methods, tools, and basic principles remain much the same.Types of GildingThere are so many different ways of applying gold, and so many different techniques, but they boil down to two basic types of gilding: mordant/surface gilding, and water gilding.With surface gilding, a type of glue (called 'size') is applied to a surface, and then the leaf is applied once the size is 'tacky', ie no longer wet and sticky, but not dry. With water gilding, water, sometimes mixed with a type of glue, is owed over the surface and the leaf is applied onto the wet surface.These types of gilding produce two distinct looks: the surface gilding creating a matte nish, the water creating a glossier look.Tools & TerminologyThis article is for paid subscribers on the Browser, Blagger, Patron/Studio and Sponsor/Group tiers only Subscribe nowAlready have an account? Sign in

PeopleChain Letter: Guido de BoerVisual artist and educator Guido de Boer finds meaning in a phrase painted on a Copenhagen wall.Better LettersSep 26, 2024 2 min readOne Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure. Photo: Julia Tulke.'Chain Letter' invites a sign painter or lettering artist to share a piece of lettering that has influenced or inspired them, before passing the baton to someone else, in a never-ending chain.In the last one, Marie Pressmar nominated Guido de Boer, a visual artist and educator in Utrecht in the Netherlands who works freehand with brush and ink to create large, monumental installations.What have you selected?Published in the 1860s, Hector Urquhart's Popular Tales of the West Highlands contains the line, "one man's rubbish may be another's treasure". The phrase has gained currency in the years since, and this interpretation was produced in Nrrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark in around 2010.It seems likely that it was painted by SPYO from Birds Crew, but the work and its message is more important than who produced it.It's not known who painted these letters high up on this Copenhagen wall. Photo: Julia Tulke.How did it inspire you?I love it when a sentence like this appears in your life, and strikes you so hard when you least expect it. I think the work is a great reminder that we are always, and everywhere, surrounded by so much beauty, and so many surprises; we only need to see it with our eyes, and to keep our minds open to receive it.It was such a lovely moment when I got to stand in front of this piece for the first time; it had been a personal favourite from the first moment I saw it online.And I'm not the only one that has been inspired by it. The title and opening shot of this short film by Mattia de Vito is taken directly from the piece, and it features in the painting, 'One Mans Trash', by Danish artist Pil Anna Tesdorpf.Who would you like to see next in the Chain Letter?I'd like to pass the chain to Miranda Ensink in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.Guido de Boer / @guidodeboerMore Chain LettersMore People

If, like me, you missed out on A Day at the Races, the Letterheads meet hosted by Peter and Sue Anthony in June, this short video from the Horton Arts Centre is a tiny sampling of what went down.Letterheads 2024 on YouTube.This extended playlist then has more from some of the folks that travelled from all over the world to attend this major gathering in Epsom, Surrey.Letterheads 2024 playlist on YouTube.There will be more from A Day at the Races in the 'Meet the Letterheads' section of BLAG 06, and you can catch up with other events from around the world here at bl.ag online.More Event ReviewsEvent Previews & Reviews on Better Letters MagazinePreviews and reviews of of sign painting and lettering events.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersFuture Meet ListingsBLAG EventsSign painting, sign and lettering events organised by BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersMore LetterheadsLetterheads Meet Reviews on BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Reviews, photo galleries, and films of Letterheads meets. IOAFS.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters

EventsA Sign Painting Exhibition Par ExcellenceReview of an incredible exhibitionGeorge Biles: King of Signwritersheld in Bridport, Dorset.Better LettersOct 10, 2024 11 min readSummer 2024 will live long in the memory after my visit to an extraordinary exhibition: George Biles: King of Signwriters. It was mounted in Bridport, Dorset, across three venuesThe British Legion Hall, Bridport Arts Centre, and the Bridport Museumwith material drawn from numerous sources.In addition to signs from Palmers Brewery, there were theatrical backdrops from the local dramatic society, and a sampling of the vast collection of drawings, photographs, press clippings, and signs saved by Ken Allen following Biles' death in 1987. (Read the previous biographical post about Biles' life and work.)The British Legion Hall was one of three three venues that hosted George Biles: King of Signwriters.The show, curated by Jemma Thompson, was remarkable on myriad counts, but what stood out above all was the mastery on display across the full spectrum of sign painting and lettering disciplines. Biles' Signs Service Studio turned out illuminated manuscripts, mural signs, heraldry, scenic backdrops, and gilded transoms, in addition to its bread and butter of commercial signs of all kinds. Pictorial work was a speciality, and his swing signs for pubs were noteworthy for using both sides to tell a story, rather than the easy option of repeating the same illustration on each one.Promotional piece for Signs Service Studio, the business run by George Biles in his native Bridport, Dorset.The following is just a taster of what I saw in a few hours, where I could have easily spent 23 days taking it all in. I've also included material from a couple of extra-curricular visits that we made to Palmers Brewery and the Lord Nelson pub.Having seen the show, I can honestly say that this is a truly unique collection, and worthy of greater exposure. Hats off to Jemma and everyone involved in pulling together this incredible display of the sign painter's craft; I hope it won't be a one-off.And thank you to to Jemma for taking me and my wonderful companions for the day under your wing. We were totally spoiled!Team Biles for a day (from left): Ken Allen, Sarah Hyndman at Type Tasting, Jemma Thompson, me, Andy from AJ Signs, and Joe Coleman. Photo: David Parnell.Signs, Signs, SignsLet's kick off with the basics: some signs.This sign was painted by George Biles' first apprentice, Jimmy Hallett, in 1947. It was for The Smith Arms, which became the smallest pub in England when Charles II granted a licence to his blacksmith so that he could keep refreshed while his horse was being shod.The use of white lettering in a blue band underneath a pictorial was a characteristic feature of Biles' work for Palmers Brewery.The signs on show from Palmers Brewery have been kept for years in one of their storage lofts. Jemma introduced us to Luke Machin at the brewery who took us on a tour, and showed us this treasure trove.More of the Palmers Brewery signs that there just wasn't room for in the exhibition. Fortunately, the entire collection has been professionally photographed within the scope of the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant that made the exhibition possible.This short film is a charming look at Biles' work for Palmers, and it was playing on a loop for visitors to The British Legion Hall.TV segment profiling George Biles and his work for Palmers Brewery on YouTube.The DrawingsBiles was loath to throw anything away and, as a result, the material saved from his studio includes hundreds of drawings.Rolls and rolls of drawings displayed in The British Legion Hall.Drawing for Palmers Brewery.Drawings with pictorials, lettering, and their use in combination.Lettering for Biles' hometown of Bridport, Dorset.Before & AfterIn many cases the drawings were matched to finished signs. These included full layouts, but also smaller studies for specific pictorial elements.Groves NurseriesLarge 1987 sign board for Groves Nurseries.The writer of this brilliant copy remains anonymous: "Mary, Mary, is not so contrary, for see how her garden grows. With plants and seeds and garden needs, all supplied by Groves."This drawing appears to be either for another sign board for the same customer, or how the one above once looked before some of the changes that included opening on Sundays, and the new-format phone number.The finished sign includes the studio signature, and is dated June 1987. Biles died in December that year.Bridport Royal Charter PageantThis drawing by George Biles was the beginning of the process that led to the finished poster that appeared around Bridport in 1953.Boot InnThe study produced ahead of the final swing sign for the Boot Inn.Welcome to BridportThis sign dates to 1981, and was one of a series that marked the entrances to Bridport for around 30 years. The maiden's nickname is 'Spirit of Bridport' and Biles took this element of the sign from a painting by Francis Henry Newbery in Bridport Town Hall.Drawing for the same sign at slightly different proportions.Tools of the TradeA mockup of Biles studio with an easel and various of his original tools and materials. And brushes, mahl stick, and palette.Theatrical BackdropsBiles produced many of these pieces for the local theatrical group, typically without charge."He would use water-based emulsion paints for the cloths. Buckets and buckets of it." Keith CastMountain scene."He'd throw one end over a dexion display unit and then hoist the other end up until it was lever, then he'd just paint. Saw it all in his head. Occasionally stopping and rolling the completed part and then just carrying on. Proper artist, artisan." David Jeanes, lighting and scenery for Bridport Panto.One of Biles' theatrical backdrops on display in The British Legion Hall.This woodland scene was painted in May 1958 by James (Jimmy) Hallett who was Biles' first apprentice and worked at the studio for 46 years.Calligraphy & IlluminationThe breadth of the studio's output is reflected in the contrast between the backdrops above and these examples of calligraphy and illumination.Honouring Harry Philip Castree on the 50th anniversary of his membership of St Mary's Lodge in Bridport. These pieces were carefully planned out in pencil before taking out the ink.Plans for calligraphic pieces.I's left undotted and T's left uncrossed to efficiently turn out this plan for a text-heavy piece.Freedom of the borough granted to Edward John Rees in 1964.Zooming InAnd even in the bigger pieces, there is astonishing detail.Pictorial details from signs.Pictorial details from theatrical backdrops.Photo AlbumAnother layer was added to everything by the numerous photos and press clippings on display.Biles' apprenticeship indenture, and a photo of him on his first day with Frederick Barrett & Sons in 1914.Archival photos of the studio, and an elderly Biles still on the brush at height.Having seen work in the flesh, one can only imagine how these would have looked in colour.Lettering and pictorial work in combination on this wide-format sign for B.G. Wyatt Ltd.Fariground art and lettering for Townsends.Large wall sign for the William Whittle florist, and Biles on the brush for Rendell & Son butchers.Bridport BonusHaving Jemma as our guide for the day meant that we got to see some of Biles' surviving work in the wild around Bridport.A well-preserved gilded transom window with decorative acanthus leaf corners.This ghost sign for Rax Dairy is a shadow of its former self. The second photo was taken by Keith Roberts in 2008.Still giving orders after all these years, and attempts to cover them.And a couple of pieces by Jemma herself. (See more work from Jemma in my post about Summer 2024 at large.)Jemma Thompson's directional signage for Fruits of the Earth and the George Biles exhibition.One for the RoadWe finished the day in the pub, so let's do the same here, with this large-scale painting for the Coach & Horses.The exhibition was brought together by Jemma Thompson with support from Palmers Brewery, Bridport Town Council, and a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.More BilesMore Summer 2024More Events & Exhibition

Dr Amy Goodwin is a trustee of Dingles Fairground Museum, and in BLAG 04 she co-authored the regular 'Lettering Location' column with fellow trustee Aaron Stephens.'Dingles Fairground Museum' by Aaron Stephens and Amy Goodwin was the 'Lettering Location' in BLAG 04.As a small postscript to BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 04, Amy treated us to a more expansive look a the museum's collections, sharing the stories of individual items, the people that painted them, and, towards the end, a handful of original Fred Fowle sketches.Here is the recording of her talk and, below this, links to further reading and resources. (I've also added the recording to the 16 others from contributors to BLAG 04.)BLAG Chat: The Fairground Painters with Amy Goodwin.Additional ResourcesAmy's PhD Portal.Fred Fowle: work and documentary film.Pete Tei: Documentary film.Amy Goodwin: Documentary film.Books: All the Fonts of the Fair and Signwriting Tips, Tricks, and Techniques by sign painter and fairground artist Joby Carter.The National Fairground and Circus Archive.Film: When Better Letters Met Stan Wilkinson, retired sign painter and fairground artist.Fairground Art: Heritage Craft Association listing.Joby Carter's Fairground Art courses.Photos from the Letterheads at Dingles.Thank you once again to Amy Goodwin for giving such an informative and visually rich talk. Visit her website, and also the rides themselves at Dingles Fairground Museum.More Event RecordingsBLAG Chat - BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureRecordings of BLAG Chats published at bl.ag online.BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter LettersMore from BLAG 04Whats Inside Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)?Between the covers of the adventures in sign painting in Issue 04 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).BLAG Magazine: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community & CultureBetter Letters